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> It doesn’t even seem to occur to people that one might pursue a doctoral degree because one is interested in the subject and wants to do research Why is it s

> It doesn’t even seem to occur to people that one might pursue a doctoral degree because one is interested in the subject and wants to do research Why is it surprising? The market is saying most people don’t have that privilege and academia is still in denial about that and completely out of touch, your surprise suggests you are… in touch? if this was a standardized test question, which you’re probably good at, you would not choose that answer Both the private and public sector have co-opted university credentials as prerequisites for employment, leading a different audience to demand and feel entitled to being accepted at universities I will give you something though: I agree this is all a mistake and the universities will outlive this 100 year folly of the plebs wanting to be there for employment, and revert to being half millennium old networking and refinement clubs for upper class children

globalnode 2y ago
Thats a depressing outlook. I feel the lower levels of uni have been co-opted as you say, but once you're passed the undergrad level I think it would become more about interest in the subject and less about a job, don't you think? (Sadly I may be wrong)
- lotsoweiners 2y ago
  Lots of jobs require (or at least prefer) candidates with a masters degree at least for more senior positions. Not sure that interest is the reason why people would be going for these degrees.
- trw55 2y ago
  This is interesting. How do you support yourself if it’s not about the money? Are you in the US? If you are have you noticed you will be paying $10 for a dozen of eggs? In what world does getting a PhD for curiosity make sense in 2025? It’s not even about money, it’s about literal survival. The people here in this thread talking about getting a PhD to satisfy an interest in a subject must have never gone to bed for dinner because if they had they’d understand why this position they’re taking doesn’t make a lick of sense.
  - globalnode 2y ago
    I think if you have to deal with financial survival issues then study is going to be the last thing on your mind. Where are you going to study? Is it too hot? too cold? too noisy? Are you distracted by hunger? Psychological problems? Family issues? Neighbours doing dumb things? etc. Assuming none of those things are your problems, then what do you do? Do you study to get a job? or because you like the subject matter? Here in Australia, if you want money, you're much better off learning a trade. Plumbers charge upwards of $100 p/h where the minimum wage is about $20 p/h. No way is a software dev going to earn $100 p/h. Oh and we dont have a startup culture like over in America. We're a failed banana republic. So I study because I like the subject matter. I'm certainly not going to be adequately financially rewarded for my knowledge and effort so I'd rather do it for personal satisfaction. Gosh, now I've gone and made myself depressed.
  - xanderlewis 2y ago
    > The people here in this thread talking about getting a PhD to satisfy an interest in a subject I'm sorry, but you seem to be unaware that in many subjects this is the sole reason anyone does a PhD. > How do you support yourself if it’s not about the money? Funding, which is readily available.

globalnode 2y ago

Thats a depressing outlook. I feel the lower levels of uni have been co-opted as you say, but once you're passed the undergrad level I think it would become more about interest in the subject and less about a job, don't you think? (Sadly I may be wrong)

lotsoweiners 2y ago
Lots of jobs require (or at least prefer) candidates with a masters degree at least for more senior positions. Not sure that interest is the reason why people would be going for these degrees.
trw55 2y ago
This is interesting. How do you support yourself if it’s not about the money? Are you in the US? If you are have you noticed you will be paying $10 for a dozen of eggs? In what world does getting a PhD for curiosity make sense in 2025? It’s not even about money, it’s about literal survival. The people here in this thread talking about getting a PhD to satisfy an interest in a subject must have never gone to bed for dinner because if they had they’d understand why this position they’re taking doesn’t make a lick of sense.
- globalnode 2y ago
  I think if you have to deal with financial survival issues then study is going to be the last thing on your mind. Where are you going to study? Is it too hot? too cold? too noisy? Are you distracted by hunger? Psychological problems? Family issues? Neighbours doing dumb things? etc. Assuming none of those things are your problems, then what do you do? Do you study to get a job? or because you like the subject matter? Here in Australia, if you want money, you're much better off learning a trade. Plumbers charge upwards of $100 p/h where the minimum wage is about $20 p/h. No way is a software dev going to earn $100 p/h. Oh and we dont have a startup culture like over in America. We're a failed banana republic. So I study because I like the subject matter. I'm certainly not going to be adequately financially rewarded for my knowledge and effort so I'd rather do it for personal satisfaction. Gosh, now I've gone and made myself depressed.
- xanderlewis 2y ago
  > The people here in this thread talking about getting a PhD to satisfy an interest in a subject I'm sorry, but you seem to be unaware that in many subjects this is the sole reason anyone does a PhD. > How do you support yourself if it’s not about the money? Funding, which is readily available.