Willy asked:

Why are many of the doctoral degrees called 'philosophical' (as suggested by the abbreviation of 'Ph.'
in 'PhD') when they do not seem to have anything to do with philosophy at all?

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Old habits die hard. Let me remind you that Galileo demanded to be put on the payroll of Duke
Gonzaga as the 'Court Philosopher' (not scientist); that Newton's book on his cosmology is graced by
the title Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica(not Principles of Science) and that in Kepler's
Epitome of the Copernican System,all questions and answers are framed in terms of their
philosophical (not scientific) content. If you were a poet or a writer, then similarly the highest rung to
which you might aspire in the academic world would be a PhD. Ditto with music (though this is usually
conferred honoris causa, because few universities have a music department). You want to be taken
seriously? Then aim for acknowledgement as a philosopher. It relates to the prestige of Philosophy as
the Queen of all Sciences. This little piece of vanity has retained its immortality to this hour.

Jürgen Lawrenz

Sydney