In this witty and mischievous book, philosopher Peter Cave dissects the most controversial disputes of today, using philosophical argument, thought experiments and taking the reasoning to where it leads.  He thus reveals the hidden complexities and muddles in the many cherished beliefs of our liberal democracies.

With ingenuous tales and deploying ideas from Plato, Nietzsche and Wittgenstein — from Machiavelli, Adam Smith and Keynes — Cave shows new ways of seeing, challenging today’s societies and ethos. By casting darkness, Cave shines light not only on ideals — be they left, right or politically central — but also on the realities by which we live.

“An elegant and erudite exposé of the hypocrisies and evasions that infect the social and political thinking of our times.” John Cottingham, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, University of Reading

Questions raised include:

What’s so good about democracy?

How private are our private lives?

Is ‘equal opportunities’ talk all nonsense?

Do free markets set the people free?

Patriotism good?  Nationalism bad?

Are the transgendered right about gender?

Is any land rightfully ‘our land’?

What’s so bad about discrimination?

“With characteristic wit, Cave takes readers on a journey of discovery through a maze of perplexities.  This is a profound book — those who survive the voyage will never think about liberal democracy and their lives as they did.” Dan Cohn-Sherbok, Professor Emeritus, University of Wales

The book introduces us to:

* the Land of Justice — and Miss Fortuna;

* the Fair Distribution State and Happy Land;

* Burqas, Bikinis and Anonymous;

* Some Venetian masks — and Fox and grapes;

* The Tower of Babel and the Serpent of Silence.

There is also Hand, so invisible, but first...the Good Ship Democracy sets the scene.