Dr. Bob Wildblood wrote: > Miguel wrote: > >> ".... Psychologists earn PhDs, and AP style allows the 'Dr.' title only >> for those with medical degrees". >> >> Check out the story at: http://www.apa.org/monitor/2008/09/ceo.html. >> >> > > The article certainly supports what Miguel said; however, I, and the faculty > who were responsible for my education at the graduate level believe that the > PhD is the degree that is most eligible to be called Dr. since it predates > the MD by a long time. The original PhD's were recognized for being > scholars. The original "medical doctors" were recognized for being barbers. > Who deserves the title of Doctor more? > > This is not actually true (though various versions of it are often repeated by disgruntled PhDs). In the medieval university system, one first earned a Master of Arts degree. Then, one could go one to earn a doctorate in one of a small number of specialties: Philosophy (PhD), Medicine (MD) Laws (LLD), Theology (various abbeviations). Naturally, the system varied somewhat from country to country, but this covers the basics from Italy to England.
Barbers were never "doctors." They were "surgeons," who were very low of on the medical status hierarchy until (roughly) the mid-19th century (roughly coincident with the discovery of ether anesthesia). Medical "doctors" were "physicians" (as opposed to "surgeons"), and were at the top of the medical hierarchy. It was early in the 20th century that medical education was radically reformed to produce the current MD, which is a post-graduate practice degree rather than a research-oriented doctorate (though it is important to note that even the PhD wasn't "research-oriented" until the 19th century, first in Germany and later everywhere else). Regards, Chris -- Christopher D. Green Department of Psychology York University Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 Canada 416-736-2100 ex. 66164 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.yorku.ca/christo/ ========================== --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
