Credentials vs Expertise

Discussions debate the value of academic credentials like PhDs and degrees as indicators of true expertise or skill, often criticizing credentialism and highlighting cases where credentials do not equate to competence.

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Keywords

CS HS IT NYU paulgraham.com credentials.html CEO Ph.D credentials phd credential degree education fields formal degrees intelligent credibility

Sample Comments

mkoubaa β€’ Mar 6, 2022 β€’ View on HN

No PhD does not imply no expertise

greatpostman β€’ Oct 8, 2023 β€’ View on HN

No becabuse academic credentials don’t mean anything

bigbillheck β€’ Jan 13, 2022 β€’ View on HN

'20 weeks of emailing experts' and 'an undergraduate CS degree' do not count as 'credentials'.

someguydave β€’ Mar 21, 2021 β€’ View on HN

yep exactly, even with training and degrees and claims of competence

coryrc β€’ Jun 2, 2022 β€’ View on HN

They're credentialed, but educated might be pushing it.

daniel-cussen β€’ Feb 25, 2011 β€’ View on HN

Highly credentialed != highly skilled.

rio517 β€’ Nov 29, 2020 β€’ View on HN

This is a unnecessarily harsh response. Those credentials are great for you, but I'm not sure they add too much to the conversation.

narkee β€’ Jul 2, 2010 β€’ View on HN

I think everyone should stop prefacing personal assessments of people by quoting their credentials first (MSc/PhD from a top X university), as I feel it should have absolutely no bearing on how intelligent one perceives them to be. I've met some seriously incompetent grad students, and they all seem to get their degrees in the end regardless.

mdink β€’ Feb 18, 2011 β€’ View on HN

Isn't the real problem here that we rely on "academia" to be the "experts"? I know a number of very accomplished and intelligent folks that did not pursue PhD and have done phenomenally well in their own research. But sadly many, for credibility's sake, had to advertise themselves as think tanks. Why can't we just put the damn degrees down and listen to the person to judge their competency??

fjsolwmv β€’ Jan 13, 2018 β€’ View on HN

People who don't have credentials don't like credentials