ABSTRACT
There is an old joke about two philosophers who go out for lunch. Halfway through the meal, a waiter passes by and inquires whether anything is all right. For, in philosophy, it is rarely reasonable to expect everything to be all right. Certainly, there are arguments that are flawless, but they tend to be trivial, laboratory creations with limited practical relevance. However, when it comes to complex arguments that aim to solve controversial, political problems, almost no argument is entirely above reproach. There is always some premise one might argue with or some assumption that may be questioned and, which may, if sustained, bring the whole argument down. Such is the nature of philosophy. The answer it gives is always the same: It depends, it all depends. But at least philosophy can resolve exactly what it all depends on and how it depends on it, so the choices politics faces are clear.
