Introduction

It may seem that there is a paradox at the heart of the notion of ‘applied philosophy’. For philosophy is the most abstract of disciplines, while ‘application’ suggests the most practical, least abstract, of activities. And yet there is nothing unique about this kind of symbiotic relationship between theory and practice, for most disciplines, from physics to psychology, are termed ‘applied’ when they attempt to use their distinctive body of theory to solve practical problems. Philosophy approaches issues in these areas not merely from a technical point of view, taking ends for granted and looking only for practically effective solutions, but from a holistic and humanistic perspective, sometimes challenging presuppositions, but always keeping in view the question of ends or ideals. And yet in many ways such criticisms are based on a widespread popular misunderstanding of the potential of a critical and analytic philosophical approach.