"In recent years, Shmuel Nili has emerged as one of the prolific and distinctive political philosophers of his generation. Philosophizing the Indefensible will add to this reputation. Nili insists that in today's world we cannot ignore indefensible policies and arguments. He lays out an original account of strategic theorizing designed to engage people widely seen as beyond the pale, illustrated with a host of examples, revolving around religious fanaticism, corporate crime, and environmental degradation. This lucid book bridges the chasm between the safe academic world of "reasonable disagreement" and the reality in which fanatics and others invent their own facts and arguments with impunity. A must-read." -- Ian Shapiro, Sterling Professor of Political Science, Yale University"A lot of political philosophy is disconnected from the real world. This book is an excellent attempt to change all this.

Nili, who for several years now has been developing a unique and influential voice roughly at the intersection of real-world concerns and more standardly abstract political philosophy, thinks that political philosophers can play a role in defeating - in the real world - indefensible views and policies and the unreasonable people supporting them. Not all of us can be as ingenuous in employing strategic political theory as Nili is, but I'm now convinced that it's worth a try: Perhaps this is how political philosophers can take an appropriate part in the most important political struggles of the day." -- David Enoch, Professor of Law and Philosophy, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and University of Oxford"Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty." -- Choice"This book will be a compelling exemplar of how to bring philosophical acumen to everyday politics." -- Enzo Rossi, Ethics.