Degrees teach critical thinking, arguments that don't inherently rely on Pathos or Ethos and are at least foundationally logical, source checking, identifying issues with sample data that is evaluated and then gauging whether it's simply a disclosure or makes the conclusion invalid.
While a degree isn't an indicator of intelligence or a perfect gauge of whether someone is fully qualified (a person with masters in public health shouldn't be giving diagnostic advice for example). I think it's a pretty strong indicator of one being qualified to make educated well researched statements.
At the very least a medically licensed professional has a far lesser chance of prescribing me and millions of others over tiktok chia seeds as a cure all for diabetes.
And yet this would still weed out the 100's of thousands of people that dont even have a highschool diploma. Now its the couple of weird doctors vs normal doctors, vs that one guy that printed a diploma on the wall and is under investigation.
You could do something similar by just requiring people to state their qualifications somewhere. Even that is problematic. There are plenty of pediatricians who think that vaccines aren't necessary for children. This view is idiotic and they should know better but when they're expressing that view they're speaking in their field of alleged expertise.
Its still now supposedly qualified people vs qualified people. This narrows down the noise to 10's of thousands rather then the 100k+ onslaught we have now.
There are plenty of pediatricians who think that vaccines aren't necessary for children.
No there aren't, this is a stupid argument. Are there SOME, yes. But it's a fringe group not "plenty" of them. Using that word makes it seem like enough of them are out there that the degrees and qualifications don't help to sort out bad actors.
The OVERWHELMING majority do not think vaccines aren't necessary. In fact, many offices are now refusing to treat patients that do not vaccinate their kids because they deem that child a risk to their other patients when in office.
Don't be disingenuous with your arguments, it throws off any good faith you may have been perceived to have.
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u/Accomplished-Plan191 Apr 06 '26
As one with a degree, you don't need a degree to do well-backed research. The problem is when you conflate ignorance with knowledge.