This is written for a Contemporary Debates volume, contra Andrew Kania.
Fans of popular music distinguish covers from non-covers. The difference matters to our critical and appreciative practice. So you’d think we must know the difference.
Yet, when people learn that I work on the philosophy of covers, they are quick to pose an example and ask: Is it a cover? They want me to provide a definition of the word "cover" which will settle the question. I do not have a definition, though, and I am going to argue that you shouldn’t either. Providing precise definitions is one helpful thing that philosophers can do, but it is just as important to recognize when a precise definition would be a sham. Even without a definition, there are some helpful distinctions to be made.
The first on-line draft of this paper was posted 22may2026.