So you think that someone who has a PhD in physics or medieval studies or philosophy hasn't really done anything more than someone with a BA in communications or public relations or something (other than waste time and money)?
I think you are probably right, Albert Einstein wasn't committed to helping people, just a selfish nerd a PHD is not a 8-year college. In college, you LEARN knowledge; in PhD studies (well the good ones), you GENERATE knowledge. now a different but related question: who do you respect more: a PhD in Nuclear Physics from MIT or a MD from University of South Alabama ?
Not to mention that apparently all other PhDs are uninterested in "helping people". And, of course, all medical doctors are.
Einstein might have deserved the term "doctor" more than others; not because he received degrees, but because of his great contributions to society. I'd say SOME PhD's contribute to the generation of knowledge. But most don't. There's plenty of people getting their PhD's every day, and I believe that most of them don't. mmm. pretty close. They spent more time in school. They learned more. They wrote more. They worked more.
Some PhD are committed to helping people. A PhD might be researching the cure for AIDS or cancer or nanotechnology or biofuels, etc. Not all PhD are necessarily the esoteric kind. And while I agree that PhD's don't deserve any more respect than any other degreed person, that also should apply to physicians. Why should they be put on this pedestal?
This whole notion of physicians helping people and being so noble is also kind of a myth. They are tradesman that have a job to do and do it. Do they help people, sure. So does my plumber or electrician or car mechanic. I pay them and do perform a service same as the physician!
I hope a mod sees this and swaps out contributing member for Esquire because it has been a long time since somebody has gotten a special subtitle.
Quoted for truth. People going to med school are often motivated by money, prestige, and pleasing their parents. I doubt that, as a group, they are somehow more altruistic than others. Another assumption that annoys me is that doctors are smart or well-educated. Some are. I would say the more appropriate adjective for the profession is well-trained. Of course, the same goes with a lot of PhDs. I've met some doctors of biology whose education in the liberal arts seems to have stopped at high school.
My sister's ex-father-in-law, whenever my family was around (because all but my sister have multiple degrees), would talk about how only idiots go to college and that real learning is in life and the working world, etc.. He had good social skills. You would be more impressive if you advocated his position instead of being so middle-of-the-road about it.
this reminds me of a Valhalla tshirt at Rice.... "Graduate School: It's not just a job; it's an indenture." haha
No but I don't trust my car to a physician either. For that I go to my car mechanic. A physician is just a trained tradesman of the body same as that for a car or other mechanic for a vehicle or other craft. Nothing more nothing less.
my brother uses this on pompous doctors: bro: "nice to meet you, Mr ..." pompous dr interrupts: "Doctor" bro: "Nice to meet you Mister Doctor"
