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A PhD proves one can convince a group of 5 (or so) people that one's efforts are worth signing off on so that the "Big University" will grant a certificate. In
by Iftheshoefits 13y ago
A PhD proves one can convince a group of 5 (or so) people that one's efforts are worth signing off on so that the "Big University" will grant a certificate. In other words, it's the same "so sayeth this big university" process you disparage, but in a different sphere. It does not signal, to me, the ability to complete a multi-year project "through the hard yards," in and of itself.
People who are extremely bright and capable researchers wash out of PhD programs all the time for a variety of reasons entirely unrelated to their abilities or desires, and people who would be lost without their committee chairperson guiding their research complete their PhDs all the time.
- nostrademons 13y agoAs I understand the grandparent post, he's not disparaging "So sayeth this big university", he's disparaging "So sayeth myself." Basically, my interpretation was that he's saying that a Ph.D is imperfect as a credential, but it's far better than just "Trust me, I'm awesome". Which I think most people would agree with, right?
- vacri 13y agoThat is pretty much what I was getting at. I wasn't actually meaning to be disparaging at all, just waxing a little poetic, though I thought it was funny that I was being chided for being disparaging in a comment that was disparaging the exact same thing :)