Can you take an oath that changes your moral obligations? Can you make a personal decision to follow a specific set of moral guidelines? Why do Veterinarians and soldiers take an oath but not (typically) data analysts? Should Philosophy Club members take an oath and what would it sound like? Sara, Ben and Logan discuss all these and more!

Would Casablanca have been as good if it started in Paris? Ben, Logan and Sara ask why you should tell a story out of order, using flashbacks, flash-forwards and a handful of stranger options. Naturally, Christopher Nolan Films feature prominently, but so too do classics from the Godfather Part II to Mozart's Don Giovanni. We consider the pitfalls that make a brilliant use of time in one film an unnecessarily confusing gimmick in another. We explore the difference between obscurity in one sense, and mystery in another. Finally, we consider the usefulness of telling a story out of order in TV shows, Books, Plays, and even Music and Painting! We hope you discover something about storytelling across media.

Sara, Ben, Mike and Logan embark on a broad discussion that goes to the heart of public policy making and comes back again.

We begin by taking a situational test designed to assess the social skills of prospective Veterinarians. And we continue by asking the hard questions that get to the marrow of the issue.

Should a veterinarian treat a patient with sub-standard care if their client (the owner) cannot afford better?

Should you help someone even if may cost you your job?

Should People have the right to own a pet? What would it cost to help pet owners with necessary care? Should people have a right to childcare? Under what conditions can a society give a right?

Are externalities a good way to assess public policy?

In this first of its kind episode, Kyra and Mackenzie revisit the "Mansplaining" episode of Philosophy club.

Mackenzie initially argues against the usefulness of the term and bemoans that the label Mansplaining tends to end conversations and close minds.

Kyra counters that the label Mansplaining contributes to an ongoing journey of cultural self-discovery. Kyra refers to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s idea: "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."

Sara, Logan and Ben ask "What is mansplaining?" "Why is it so aggravating?" and "How do you avoid mansplaining?"

Along the way we discuss Essentialism and Bell Hooks, relevant knowledge, and we discover what a male Gynecologist and a Veterinarian have in common!

In this special episode of Philosophy Club, Evan, a practicing Therapist (and roommate of Kitty), helps Aaqib, Ben, Kitty, Logan, Mackenzie and Mike to answer what makes a good therapist? As it turns out, there may not be a single good answer to the question. But that doesn't discourage them!

The group also discusses: why do people come to therapy? Should everyone go to therapy? What makes a therapist better suited to a given client? Do a therapist and client need to share values? What should Tony Soprano's therapist do? Is therapy performative? Can you substitute friends for a therapist? And how many therapists form relationships with clients?

Notes--

Evan's Book recommendations:

On Becoming a Person by Carl Rogers

The Gift of Therapy by Irvin Yalom

Ben, Katie, Logan and Mike discuss why we call one way of speaking proper and another colloquial. Along the way, we learn about Ben's hardships at an Orioles' game, David Foster Wallace and Descriptive vs. Prescriptive dictionaries, what Wittgenstein imagines construction workers are like, John McWhorter's Theory of Creole. We also ask about the benefits and tradeoffs of having many different ways of speaking.

Beau, Ben and Logan first discuss how to find a what to read, and Ben introduces the question: What makes a classic? It seems endurance, quality and popularity have something to do with it. And surely having someone to talk to about a book makes it all the more fun. But is the best of all time the same as the most popular? What is the role of genre in ranking them? Can you be someone who likes a lot of Sci-Fi but does not like Sci-Fi? And what are best-of lists even for? Be aware! Spoiler alert for Anna Karenina ahead!