3 ms·

I find it silly that this could be a topic of a doctoral thesis. You're a doctor of what, of knowing whether Fuller was a charlatan? Charlatanry is extremely su

I find it silly that this could be a topic of a doctoral thesis. You're a doctor of what, of knowing whether Fuller was a charlatan? Charlatanry is extremely subjective, as is genius. I guess I could see this being a Twitter rant or something, but the whole premise - that this could even be an object of academic study - is unnatural to me.

skhunted 2y ago
Historians of science would be interested in the topic as would those studying the sociology of scientific communities. In this day of rampant pseudoscience and distrust of scientists it is of interest to know if and how fellow scientists were snookered. Intelligence agencies like to study and understand the propagation of false information.
- drewcoo 2y ago
  > Historians of science would be interested in the topic as would those studying the sociology of scientific communities. Except that Fuller wasn't a scientist and did not contribute in any way to science. > In this day of rampant pseudoscience and distrust of scientists Time would be better spent figuring out how evolutionary psychology manages to seem real today. We already have works on the phrenology of yesteryear. > Intelligence agencies like to study and understand the propagation of false information. I had no idea the CIA had an introspection department. Good for them!
  - skhunted 2y ago
    You have a capacity for missing the point.
smeagull 2y ago
A thesis is more a proof that you can handle a particular type of research or investigation. I myself haven't touched the particular specialised field of my thesis since I submitted it. It also doesn't mean that the Author particularly enjoys or finds the topic that interesting. I've often heard that if you have a favourite topic, you should at best find a thesis topic that is adjacent or related, and I'd tend to agree.

3 ms·

I find it silly that this could be a topic of a doctoral thesis. You're a doctor of what, of knowing whether Fuller was a charlatan? Charlatanry is extremely su

by dominicq 2y ago

skhunted 2y ago
Historians of science would be interested in the topic as would those studying the sociology of scientific communities. In this day of rampant pseudoscience and distrust of scientists it is of interest to know if and how fellow scientists were snookered. Intelligence agencies like to study and understand the propagation of false information.
- drewcoo 2y ago
  > Historians of science would be interested in the topic as would those studying the sociology of scientific communities. Except that Fuller wasn't a scientist and did not contribute in any way to science. > In this day of rampant pseudoscience and distrust of scientists Time would be better spent figuring out how evolutionary psychology manages to seem real today. We already have works on the phrenology of yesteryear. > Intelligence agencies like to study and understand the propagation of false information. I had no idea the CIA had an introspection department. Good for them!
  - skhunted 2y ago
    You have a capacity for missing the point.
smeagull 2y ago
A thesis is more a proof that you can handle a particular type of research or investigation. I myself haven't touched the particular specialised field of my thesis since I submitted it. It also doesn't mean that the Author particularly enjoys or finds the topic that interesting. I've often heard that if you have a favourite topic, you should at best find a thesis topic that is adjacent or related, and I'd tend to agree.