[The following is the full text of a letter written by a certain Michael Riggs in defense of Dr Tom Bearden's Doctorate Degree in Philosophy (PhD) awarded on the basis of the latter's life and work experiences as a distinguished scientist. It is worth carefully reflecting on the eye-opening wisdom of the many points Mr Riggs raises in the said letter.]
From: mcriggs
To: sterlingda@perentech.com
Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 3:18 PM
Dear Sterling,
I envy those with enough time to delve into and discuss whether Dr. Bearden received a doctorate, and from where. I never had that luxury myself, but if you'll grant me a moment, I would like to address the idea of a "diploma mill."
While one may not agree with me, the definition of a diploma mill is an educational facility where one meets minimal, structured, educational requirements in order to acquire a degree. While I do not wish to belittle the efforts of those who have gone through the prescribed educational processes required, by say, the top 100 universities, I would say that based on the end result, our top-rated universities definitely meet the definition of diploma mills, including any "top" university you wish to select. Let me explain why I would say this.
Modern-day academia, (and thus the university system) is an unbroken loop of self-regulating, self-perpetuating, self-promoting, ego-centric elitists where the prime qualifications for maintaining "impeccable credentials" is to hold the faith, retain those concepts learned by rote, and be able to repeat them as taught. And I'm supposed to be impressed? Keep in mind, once you attain that Ph.D, you don't have to accomplish one single thing, and you don't have to make any contribution in understanding our world in order to be considered one of the establishment elite. Within academia, it is sufficient to theorize some minor facet of a known and familiar science, do some tests, document the same, and then,( and this is the key element,) do whatever it takes to get your results published. After all, publication to physicists and scientists is the ultimate goal. Never mind that your obscure work will never be read, never mind that your determinations are meaningless. Just get published. Ride the current and don't make waves. And this approach is meaningful and superior?
The only thing that should matter to anyone is the end result. The result of our newly graduating Ph.D's is that they have the basics, but until one may contribute to our collective knowledge, or successfully accomplish a breakthrough, then all they have done is spend time in a specified regimen.
Our current educational system is stagnant, and is turning out stagnancy. That is why we are doing the same old things with brighter, newer equipment.
If today, Nicola Tesla were to manifest himself, he would be welcome at any university in the world, and in a teaching position. His credentials? No Ph.D. Yet he knew far more than his contemporaries, including those that would carry a Ph.D. behind their names today. In his own time, he stated to Einstein his disagreement on certain elements of Einstein's theory, the results of the Michaleson and Morley experiment, Max Planck, and Neils Bohr. His reasoning? "I think they are relying too much on theories and equations, and not enough on experimentation. . . . Today's scientists have substituted mathematics for experiments and they wander through equation after equation and eventually build a structure which has no relation to reality." As Tesla told Einstein, "I base my theories upon experiments combined with mathematical formulae, instead of experimentation alone, like Thomas Edison, or mathematics alone, which Herr Einstein seems to prefer."
And speaking of Einstein. He was not a physicist when he turned out his most important work. He worked in a patent office as a clerk. Credentials? They certainly wouldn't meet muster in what the academic elite would require, but that wouldn't change the reality of his unique, and in some area, his superior knowledge.
Again, results. State of being. Acquisition and retention of knowledge. Is Dr. Bearden's state of mind equal or even far superior to those Ph.D's that are being churned out of our university system today? Let me answer it this way. Sterling Allan, Eric Krieg, or any others of his detractors could only get into this history books if they accomplished something spectacular, such as committed a mass murder. But you can rest assured that Dr. Tom Bearden in the decades, and centuries to come will be remembered and reflected on as a torch bearer of new knowledge in a number of scientific fields.
Why contact John Bedini in these matters? And why were John's replies a bit short? I can tell you. John has been exposed to such monumental elements of triviality and group stupidity, that if he ever had any patience with folks of such ilk, he's certainly lost it by now. Here's the secret to John Bedini. He doesn't have time for such meaningless triviality. John doesn't talk. John does. John has a big heart, and a mind that is a well-spring of knowledge. But his patience for stupidity and foolish endeavors which are nothing short of manifestations of jealous ignorance is zero.
In the jungles of Viet Nam, I met a gentleman of minor royalty who was serving in the United States army as a PFC. His proper title was "Sir ______. The difference between he and I? I slept in this _____hole here, and he slept in a _____hole over there.
Where you get your degree or how really shouldn't be the defining criteria, but what you do with your knowledge through accomplishment is what really counts at the end of the day. I can show you Ph.D's from the nation's most prestigious schools who couldn't jump-start a car. To hold a Ph.D from MIT and to have done little with it beyond hang it on a wall is more meaningful than what Dr. Bearden has done?
I dare say that if you brought in five physicists and engineers from each of the top 100 universities, for a total of 500 of the cream of physicists and EM engineers, and let John and Dr. Bearden teach them for one week, they would learn more about physics and EM theory and applications than they received in their entire educational process.
And you are concerned with credentials? Do as you wish. Others have their Ph.D's. Dr. Bearden has his. And you would know it was well-earned if you would spend just a few hours in his presence. Absolutely illuminating. His unique specialty is what psychologists call "abstract conceptualization." He has the unique ability to disassemble a new discovery or technology, and then determine what the operational concepts are which are at work. And the funny thing is, all his determinations are verifiable from selectively obscure determinations made by others. Dr. Bearden is an excellent example of a person who through education, independent learning, bench time, theory and application, as well as exposure and experiences, have earned the title and honor of being called, "Doctor."
While Dr. Bearden has repeatedly asked me to call him Tom, I'll keep addressing him as Dr. Bearden, as there could be no other appropriate address..
Thank you for your time,
Michael Riggs
SOURCE:
http://freeenergynews.com/Directory/Beware/Bearden_Bogus_PhD/#Comment_mcriggs
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