What is a "Common Law Doctorate"?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the concept of a "common law doctorate," with participants expressing confusion and skepticism regarding its existence and legitimacy. The inquiry is primarily conceptual, exploring the validity of such a degree and its implications.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses uncertainty about the meaning of "common law doctorate" and seeks clarification.
  • Another participant dismisses the concept as nonsense, suggesting that it lacks legitimacy.
  • A different participant proposes that if the degree exists, the burden of proof should be on the individual claiming to hold it, advocating for verification through credible sources.
  • Some participants suggest that the term implies a self-proclaimed qualification based on personal study rather than formal education.
  • One participant humorously suggests that personal experience in a relationship could qualify for such a degree, reflecting skepticism about the seriousness of the claim.
  • A participant argues that the absence of government involvement in academic awards undermines the legitimacy of the term "common law doctorate."

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express skepticism about the existence of a "common law doctorate," with no consensus on its legitimacy. Multiple competing views remain regarding the implications of the term and the nature of the claims made by individuals using it.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference the need for credible sources to substantiate claims about the degree, indicating a reliance on formal educational standards for validation.

TOKAMAK
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Hello, I'm not sure if this would be the right sub-forum for this question, but perhaps someone could help me out. Forgive my naivete, but i have no idea what "common law doctorate" means. I have seen an ostensibly flakey individual who goes by the alias of "starship1" in several science forums, who claims to hold many common law doctorates, or words to that effect. I have done several searches with different search engines, to find out what exactly this means, but I was left empty-handed. If anyone could tell me what a common law doctorate is, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.


(For anyone interested, these are the things he talks about:)
http://b3.ezboard.com/fnuclearspacefrm20.showMessage?topicID=221.topic

http://www.newmars.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard/ikonboard.cgi?;act=ST;f=4;t=378;hl=starship1
 
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It all looks like nonsense to me.
 
Hi, thank you for your response. I thought it looked pretty nonsensical as well, but I was wondering if a "common law doctorate" even exists?
 
I don't think so, but what you should do is to require proof that it does exist. Put the burden of proof on him. In other words, ask the poster to provide a link [such as a dot edu or dot gov] proving just what this "degree" really is. If it really is a degree, he can cite the college or agency that provides it and you can check with that college or agency. The information can be verified if he is being truthful.
 
It's BS.

I was going to point out the errors this guy was making on even very basic things, but I see they've been pointed out and then some.
 
Thanks for all your replies, and for your time in reading the links I posted. This answers my question.
 
Well, 8 years ago me and my girlfriend at the time started dating. We've been living together for several years. If you can get a PHd in Common Law, I'd like to think we've earned it by now.
 
Well, the very name should give it away: common law doctorate.

The government is not involved in conferring academic awards, so there cannot be any law concerning them in any way.

This person is probably implying something along the lines of I've read the books they use in colleges, so I deserve an automatic, implied degree. This is, of course, nonsense.

- Warren
 

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