chiaroscuro wrote:You have a point, Dr. Maichblack; but there is also another side to the story.
Honorary degrees are awarded because universities recognise the fact that there are OTHER ways that a person can acquire knowledge apart from going through formal education.
In this line of thought, honorary degrees are deemed "equal" to the academic ones. Treating them differently would be similar to treating qualifications in different disciplines differently.
That is; for example, saying that a BSc is a higher qualification than a BA! Ridiculous, isn't it.
I have heard a PhD (Mathematics) holder arguing that Medical Doctors are not real "doctors"... because theirs is a first degree and his is a postgraduate one!
@chiaroscuro - I agree with you to some extent. The
original thought was noble. Honorary degrees were only being given to deserving individuals. Not anymore!!! Don't you remember sometime back when an obscure American college/university was embroiled in controversy for giving honorary degrees right and left in Kenya - to the likes of akina Marende. The recepients had to pay some money to cater for "costs". I guess some of the degrees even had to be revoked later. And with the numerous private universities coming up, all I have to do is give honorary degrees to some "popular" individuals to gain visibility.
By the way I have seen that medical Dr., Phd Dr. thing play out in a certain gathering. Person A approaches person B and introduces Person C as Dr. so and so. Person B greets him animatedly and immediately starts chatting him up. Person A adds "he is a medical Dr.". Person B immediately looses interest, excuses himself and walks away!!!
Forgot to mention. Person B was a real Dr. (Read Phd.!)
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