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> Why are we dishing out far more PhDs - and I'm guessing also all other types of academic qualification - per capita than we were before? On one hand, the sph
by gottorf 3y ago
> Why are we dishing out far more PhDs - and I'm guessing also all other types of academic qualification - per capita than we were before?
On one hand, the sphere of human knowledge is expanding, so the outermost edges (the surface area, so to speak) are longer, and therefore we need more PhDs who are the people at those outermost edges. It also explains the extreme specialization of those PhDs, whose theses are incomprehensible to normal people.
On the other, there's been a systematic push to put everyone through college, and of course some of those people go on to more advanced degrees. So given the incentives involved it's expected that more people per capita come out with a PhD.
- BlueTemplar 3y agoIt's a well known saying, but my mandatory HN pedantry must point out that it doesn't work because the surface area grows slower than the volume.
- logifail 3y ago> we need more PhDs who are the people at those outermost edges <spoiler> Apologies if I'm the bearer of bad news, but most PhDs stop working in science and end up working for corporations. > there's been a systematic push to put everyone through college Q: Why is that?
- gottorf 3y ago> but most PhDs stop working in science and end up working for corporations. The bills don't pay themselves, I suppose! Especially if a PhD comes with a hefty loan to pay off. > Q: Why is that? I don't know if any single person could fully answer this question (and it certainly won't be me), but my guess is that those well-intentioned folks in power saw that college-educated people earn more money, and applied faulty causation. Put more people through college and they will earn more and make the country wealthier! Put everyone through college and everyone will be better off.