Once upon a time a dozen or so curious travelers rented a boat for a
cruise out to an enchanted island, where, it was said, Athena sat on
her throne dispensing rich gifts to all. The trip was smooth enough
for awhile, with only a few rough seas to endure and an occasional
shoal to avoid. But then one morning one of the passengers discovered
that the boat was taking on water.
"We're sinking, we're sinking!" some of the people cried.
"No," said the captain, "the flow is not yet so fast. If we will get
some buckets and bail the water out, everything will be all right."
This solution seemed simple enough.
However, a dissension soon arose among the travelers about who would
do the bailing, and what buckets would be used. "Allow me," said
one. "It is my duty in this circumstance to bail, and I have here a
very solid bucket suitable to the task."
"Beg pardon, sir," said another, "but I must be the bailer. It is
written in the laws of the sea that a person of my parts must do
this labor. Besides, I have a superior bucket."
"Wait," said a third. "This gentleman's bucket is all right, but I
think I should be allowed to help bail, since I am a fellow passenger."
Everyone adduced many weighty, true, and worthy philosophical
arguments for his position, and cited laws, ethics, and political
and procedural rules, but no person succeeded in convincing any
other. Soon, therefore, the discussion ceased to remain at this
level, but grew rather heated, and shouts and aspersions began to
fill the air, with perhaps even a trace of ill will.
"I refuse to allow anyone to bail this boat unless he uses this
bucket, which, as any fool can see, is the only true bucket, clearly
superior to all others," screamed one.
"And I absolutely refuse to see this boat bailed unless I can take part
in the work," yelled another.
Now these passengers all had some interest in seeing the boat bailed,
and most hoped that this impasse could be overcome to the
satisfaction of everyone. But since no one knew exactly what to
do, nothing was done.
"Perhaps we will get to the enchanted island without bailing the
boat," hoped one.
It was not to be so. While the travelers continued to debate, some
suggesting unworkable alternatives and the others remaining
unyielding, the boat continued to fill, until at one sudden and
horrifying moment, the water rushed in over the gunwales and across
the deck. The hold filled rapidly, and in spite of every man's
frenzied efforts, the boat sank, carrying the stubborn but now
too-late-repentant travelers, together with their screaming wives
and virgin daughters, to the very bottom of the sea.