Is it bad to have a favorite sibling?

On the "about the site" page, reference is made to your cadre of "trained philosophers," and in many questions and answers on the site, the panelists are described as "professional philosophers." These phrases imply that philosophy from a degreed person or one who professes to be a philosopher as a means of earning an income is superior to philosophy from the likes of Rousseau, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, or Eric Hoffer (all meagerly educated, working-class tradesmen). We know that is not the case, which leads me to the question. If it is not education or profession, then what is it that makes one a philosopher?

Is it wrong to answer a question with a lie when 1. The answer is none of the questioner's business AND 2. To attempt to dodge the question would arouse suspicion AND 3. To answer the question truthfully would cause some harm For example, suppose a woman needs to take some time off for fertility treatment. If her boss asks why she is taking time off, is it okay for her to lie about what she will do with the time?

Would you please propose me some good academic books on the foundations of ethics?

Why did a whole month pass between Socrates' trial and his execution?

Is it true that all people are beautiful? Or is that just a white lie we tell to make non-beautiful people feel better?

How does one perform a professional-caliber literature search in philosophy?

Why does our society place more value on the degree than the actual learning? With Ivy league and esteemed colleges publishing their courses online, it is plausible to think that one could learn as much or more than a graduate, yet that knowledge would not be valued in the workforce or in the field of knowledge. This can also be seen in high school. Less knowledgeable students who earn the diploma are far greater valued than others who may have superior knowledge but did not complete.

Many people say that the world doesn't owe you anything. Is that true? What responsibilities if any does a person have for his fellow human beings?

Dear philosophers, I have 2 questions: 1. Do you believe that it is morally permissible for an unmarried person (who has no children to care for) and who has battled depression for many years to commit suicide ? 2. What is your opinion of Liberalism which asserts that a person's life belongs only to them, and no other person has the right to force their own ideals by which that life must be lived ? Thanks, William