Prompt Cast
The History and Controversy of Honorary Degrees
TLDR Honorary degrees, originating in Europe in the 15th century, have been used to reward donors and celebrities, inspiring graduating students with impressive remarks at graduation ceremonies. Recipients are not allowed to use the title of doctor or any other earned degree designation after their name, and some colleges have rescinded honorary degrees in controversial cases.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Not all universities give honorary degrees, including UVA, MIT, Stanford, and Cornell.
02:10
Honorary degrees have historically been used to reward donors and bring in celebrities for media appeal, and they originated in Europe, specifically at Oxford University in the 15th century.
04:14
Honorary degrees became so prevalent in the 19th century that they diminished the value of actual earned doctorates, prompting criticism from the president of the North Eastern Dental Association in 1910.
06:33
Honorary degrees are often given to inspire graduating students and typically require the recipient to attend the graduation ceremony.
08:31
Honorary degrees are often given to recognizable, inspirational, or funny individuals who are expected to give impressive remarks at graduation ceremonies, and recipients are not allowed to use the title of doctor or any other earned degree designation after their name.
10:34
Recipients of honorary degrees are not allowed to use the title of doctor or any other earned degree designation after their name, although there have been some individuals, such as Maya Angelou and Ben Franklin, who have still used the title despite this policy.
12:40
Honorary degrees can be rescinded, as seen with cases like Jimmy Savile, Oscar Pistorius, and Donald Trump, and some colleges in Canada also offer honorary degrees.
Categories:
Society & Culture
