The problem is that Rossi is implying that he has a Doctorate degree. And the letter provided as evidence (why not a transcript? why not a certificate? maybe a letter is easier to PhotoShop?) states that the degree received is a Master's, not a Doctorate.
Since you don't seem to disagree that the degree shown is a Master's, not a Doctorate, why are you quibbling about that point?
As for the subject matter, the "Dottore Magistrali di Filosofia" translates to "Master's Degree in Philosophy." That is NOT the same as our "Doctorate of Philosophy." In the former, "Philosophy" is referring to an actual academic subject. In the case of our degree, "Philosophy" can be taken more literally as "Love of Knowledge." It strongly appears to me that Rossi is using the name of a degree awarded in the subject of Philosophy for the very reason that in English, a person unfamiliar with Italian degrees (and who doesn't know about Google Translate) could see it and think it is a PhD.
And what the heck are you explaining to me about how the same degree can be awarded for widely different subjects of study? Did you miss the part where I said that I have a PhD, the fact of which implies that I have at least a passing familiarity with the American university system? Gee, at my graduation ceremony, there was a woman receiving a PhD in piano studies. Like, what the heck does a person do to earn a PhD in piano studies??? I'll bet she didn't spend 8-10 hours per day in the lab like I did!
And thanks for the suggestion that I spend MORE time on Google. I already spend hours on Google every day; a few more won't hurt, right? As for the translation of "Dottore Magistrale di Filosofia", the translation you get depends in part in how you enter it into Google Translate. Word by word, it is "master's degree in philosophy". Also, if you look at the original pdf file (a translation of which I posted in reply #21, this thread), the "letter" actually states that the degree was awarded in Philosophy. Plus, the letter was generated by the humanities department. I don't know about you; I didn't even know where the humanities department was when I was getting my PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology. I doubt that physicists in general have any more interest in humanities than chemists.
It's from way back in 1975 before the EU decided on a standardized categorization such as we have had in the USA for quite some time.
Your personal experience has nothing whatsoever to do with Italian universities then or now.
The "translation" of the terms in the degrees means nothing ~ they are IDEOMATIC EXPRESSIONS and have to be dealt with as a whole, and during the period the degrees were issued.
Frankly, the Internet hasn't been a lot of help in this ~ and I am surprised ~ totally flabbergasted in fact ~ that any Italian university could actually be teaching anybody about nuclear physics.
He DOES have a doctorate. Just because the Italian degree system of 1975 had a different level of required effort doesn't change that. Again, the Italian response I am referring to specifically says....""dottore" entitles Rossi to claim the title of Dr."
"Since you don't seem to disagree that the degree shown is a Master's, not a Doctorate, why are you quibbling about that point?"
I "do" disagree. There is a major difference between the granted academic title and level of effort required to attain that degree.
As for the subject matter, the "Dottore Magistrali di Filosofia" translates to "Master's Degree in Philosophy."
It does NOT! Copy and past the phrase into your friend "Google Translate" and see what comes out.
"That is NOT the same as our "Doctorate of Philosophy." In the former, "Philosophy" is referring to an actual academic subject. In the case of our degree, "Philosophy" can be taken more literally as "Love of Knowledge."
No, it isn't the same. But courses of study can vary significantly with level of knowledge attained.
"It strongly appears to me that Rossi is using the name of a degree awarded in the subject of Philosophy for the very reason that in English, a person unfamiliar with Italian degrees (and who doesn't know about Google Translate) could see it and think it is a PhD.
Speculation.
"And what the heck are you explaining to me about how the same degree can be awarded for widely different subjects of study? Did you miss the part where I said that I have a PhD, the fact of which implies that I have at least a passing familiarity with the American university system?
My point is that within specific type of degree, vastly different levels of expertise can be gained depending on the courses taken, not that "the same degree can be awarded for widely different areas of study". You've got my point completely backwards.
One student trying for a degree in "Philosphy" might take a large number of science courses, while another student might take no science courses at all.....and still end up with the same academic title on exiting the process.
"Gee, at my graduation ceremony, there was a woman receiving a PhD in piano studies. Like, what the heck does a person do to earn a PhD in piano studies??? I'll bet she didn't spend 8-10 hours per day in the lab like I did!
Take two students majoring in "piano studies". One takes courses in acoustics, physics, mathematics, and the study of the science of the piano. The other takes music appreciation classes. Same degree.
"I didn't even know where the humanities department was when I was getting my PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology.
Shame. My university REQUIRED a certain number of humanities courses. I sometimes regret that I didn't take more...but didn't have time.
"I doubt that physicists in general have any more interest in humanities than chemists.
LOL. Look up the biographies of any of the top-level physicists (or chemists for that matter). Most of them have a VERY strong interest in the humanities. Much more so than humanities majors have in science.
I disagree.
I had a music theory teacher who was a PhD. She was a musical genius. The math for music is incredibly complicated; it's not just playing an instrument if you want to learn composing. Moving through the circle of fifths or backwards through fourths isn't easy even though there are rules. The program I went through was extremely rigorous. I was taking Calculus and Physics at the same time and believe me, I'd rather have the teacher hold up an F in calculus than have the teacher play something of mine that sounded terrible.
Music has its own math, its own language and its own rules. It's not the same as picking up and playing guitar hero. You've got to have the correct key, the correct time, correct tempo, know what the Italian words are for faster, arpegiating a chord, loud or soft, what the dots at the end of some bars mean not to mention the D.S. Al Coda.
If you know the movable 'do' system, you can create any key's scales such as major, minor, melodic minor, Harmonic Minor, Lydian, Phrygian and so on as well as any type of chord from a simple 1st, third and fifth to adding suspended notes and sevenths.
Believe me, we weren't judged because we were able to finish a piece of music as an exercise, we were judged on original music which a lot of people took really hard. Keep in mind we're not talking about popular music, we had to write music written in the style of the period of the late 1700s to some modern classical music which to me sounded like cr*p.