The illustrated guide to a Ph.D (1 Viewer)

[TacticalEvilDan]

Every fall, I explain to a fresh batch of Ph.D. students what a Ph.D. is.

It's hard to describe it in words.

So, I use pictures.

Read below for the illustrated guide to a Ph.D.

The illustrated guide to a Ph.D.

 

[bicycleman]

So you're piled higher and deeper.

 

[Orion]

Why does the knowledge expansion look uncannily like a male anatomical function?

 

[TacticalEvilDan]

Because the only way to accomplish anything worth remembering in this world is to be a dick.

 

[Hicup]

So a Ph.D is cutting the boundaries of all of human knowledge, in that particular area? Not so sure I agree.


Tim-

 

[TacticalEvilDan]

If you follow the illustration closely, it's about extending (or stretching or displacing or inching forward) the boundary of human knowledge just a little bit in a very particular area.

Considering what you have to do to get a PhD, I think that's a fair assessment.

 

[Hicup]

But a Ph.D doesn't give one holding one, all the knowledge of their particular area of science. So the premise is flawed.

Also, if you turn the apex on its axis it too becomes a circle. Now what?


Tim-

 

[TacticalEvilDan]

But a Ph.D doesn't give one holding one, all the knowledge of their particular area of science. So the premise is flawed.

The illustration is not one that claims that a PhD grants the earner all the knowledge of any particular "area" of science, just that the process of getting it expands what is known about a very small area of science by a very small amount.

Also, if you turn the apex on its axis it too becomes a circle. Now what?

Wait . . . what?

 

[Hicup]

The illustration is not one that claims that a PhD grants the earner all the knowledge of any particular "area" of science, just that the process of getting it expands what is known about a very small area of science by a very small amount.



Wait . . . what?

RE: Ph.D expanding science.

How so?


RE: Wait, what?

Me -

Also, if you turn the apex on its axis it too becomes a circle. Now what?

The circle in the diagram represents all of human knowledge, so too does the petruding path of the Ph.D outside of the circle, extending past the very limits of the circle of knowledge, correct? Ok, now turn your point of view on the peteruding point, follow it down to the central location from where it derives. There must be a limited amount of mass in your example, or the petruding point would never be able to penetrate the circle of all human knowledge. By making the claim the example makes, it is essentially saying that the Ph.D ignores the realm of physics, and provides an argument that extends, or increases the mass of all human knowledge, without the introduction of matter.


Tim-

 

[Singularity]

The illustrated guide to a Ph.D.

If I could do it over, i'd chuck the doctorate and try to become a country music singer.