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What’s up, Doc?

JL;DR SUMMARY Nicholas Clairmont examines the controversy surrounding the honorific title "Doctor" in relation to Jill Biden, who holds an Ed. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

Wall Street JournalPress FreedomJill BidenJoseph EpsteinCredentialismCredentialsHonorificsEd.D.DoctorateAcademic Titles

Places mentioned

United States
"One of the biggest changes in American life is the elevation of higher education credentials to a badge of belonging in what we artlessly call the knowledge economy."
Chicago, Illinois, United States
"over an issue of linguistic correctness surrounding a Wall Street Journal article by Joseph Epstein, who somewhat obnoxiously suggested that Jill Biden should stop bothering with the honorific title doctor."
Athens, Attica, Greece
"fields gradually broke off from philosophy, originating spiritually and somewhat literally with the organized teaching that took place in a garden north of Athens where Plato set up shop, the Academy."
China
"But alas, they failed this test earlier this year when China kicked journalists out of its borders,"
Paris, France
"the cartoonists of Charlie Hebdo."
London, United Kingdom
"Even the London Times style guide considers it grossly continental: There is little to be said for a German-style flourishing of doctorates in public life, and we should resist."

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Cairo Item ID 78646
Cairo Source ID 10
Retrieved 2026-03-27 05:32:16 UTC
Curated 2026-03-27 08:31:04 UTC