What is philosophical about baseball? We are loyal to all sorts of things, such as family and country, and we are loyal to baseball teams. Is this rational? What are you loyal to? Some people think that baseball isn't intrinsically worthwhile, so there is no reason to care about it. Others think that caring about something makes it worthwhile. Ken introduces Allen Wood, professor at Stanford. Why do people care about baseball? Wood thinks that it is partly because of the dramatic elements of the game. There is both a team and an individual, a hero. Wood likens feelings for a baseball team to the hero in a play or story.

为什么棒球如此受球迷欢迎?伍德认为，这可能是因为它需要大量的注意力和奖励学习。它的一个有趣的特点是没有时钟。从理论上讲，游戏可以永远持续下去。约翰指出，尽管棒球的诞生远早于电视，但它有许多方面非常适合电视。考虑到我们社会的流动性，对一个特定的团队保持忠诚有意义吗?伍德认为，对审美对象感兴趣只是部分理性的。它也可能是与某个特定城镇的联系。

Why do we adore baseball players when so many of them have been awful people? Many of the heroes are constructions based loosely on the real players. But, do the constructions get into the hall of fame or the real players? Is the integrity of baseball being damaged by the players' use of performance enhancing substances? Is baseball any better than the diversions and low-minded entertainment that is around? John asks if we can't say the same of opera.

• Roving Philosophical Report(Seek to 04:35): Amy Standen interviews Ted Cohen, philosopher at University of Chicago, about the merits and value of baseball.

• Sixty Second Philosopher(Seek to 37:50): Ian Shoales gives a brief biography of A. Bartlett Giamatti, a recent commissioner of baseball and president of the National League.

• Conundrum(Seek to 48:15): Mary calls in to ask if she has a responsibility to expose an affair that a friend's husband is having. Should she tell her friend? Should she let the husband know she knows? Should she do nothing? What does her friendship require?