A.K.A Piled Higher and Deeper.

The Doctorate comes in two flavors. One where an idea is proposed and researched and another where the study is truly something not understood and an investigation is proposed and worked until it meets its conclusion. To compare them, a doctorate in English would write on Chaucer's less know works, while a geneticist or biochemist would study genetics by trying to find a fruit fly gene that equates to baldness in humans. There is also the Doctor of Education, which is referenced in Heinlein's 'Number of the Beast' by character Dr Zebadiah John Carter, which he embarrassingly says has a doctorate of education because it is the fastest and the easiest doctorate to get because all you need to do is write a thesis that contains all the specialties and viewpoints of your review committee (apparently the committee will argue with themselves about the content until the time is up and grant the doctorate).

Doctorates who become specialists are said to pick one problem and worry it to death.

-- DanielBrookshier - 17 Jan 2005