Doctor of Metaphysics
14th-century manuscript of Aristotle's Metaphysics
AcronymPhD
DMETA
Type

Doctor of Metaphysics (PhD, Ph.D., or DMETA; Latin: Metaphysica doctor or doctor Metaphysica), also called a Metaphysical Science Doctorate, is a purported academic degree. While academic universities may teach Metaphysics as a branch of Philosophy,[1] the Doctor of Metaphysics degree is a non-secular (religious based) degree. It is a real, legal degree, but is not federally recognized as an academic degree.[2][3][4][5]

Metaphysics

The study of metaphysics is centered on spiritual (not necessarily religious) matters and positive thinking. The derivation of the word metaphysics comes from the greek: meta – over and beyond – and physics.[1] The Department of Philosophy at the University of Georgia defines metaphysics as a branch of philosophy concerned with reality and potentiality, mind and matter.[6]

Doctorate of Metaphysics

In the United States, a Doctor of Metaphysics degree may be offered by purported religious institutions of learning, "so called" churches and colleges of metaphysics.[7] In 1938 the United States Department of the Interior published a book listing the "Doctor of Metaphysics" degree in a section written by Walton C. John, titled "Counterfeit Degrees".[8]

A 1960 American Psychologist article titled, "Mail-order training in psychotherapy," warned against unaccredited schools purporting to offer "training in a variety of psychological and metapsychological methods" and awarding a Doctor of Metaphysics degree.[2]

In the field of social work there are counselors who claim the title "Doctor of Metaphysics". In 2019 the Journal of Social Work Education published, "Predatory Doctoral Programs: Warnings for Social Workers". The article warned that the majority of doctoral programs in metaphysics are little more than diploma mills which require few prerequisites other than money.[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "What Is Metaphysics?". Metaphysics. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  2. 1 2 Brophy, Alfred L.; Durfee, Richard A. (June 1960). "Mail-order training in psychotherapy". American Psychologist. 15 (6): 356–360. doi:10.1037/h0044462. Retrieved 8 July 2022. One school… grants a PhD after as little as 18-months study with no previous college education… . Corrective action has been made difficult because of the geographical scattering of the schools and the consequently minor problem that they represent to most individual states.
  3. 1 2 Thyer, Bruce A. (2 January 2019). "Predatory Doctoral Programs: Warnings for Social Workers". Journal of Social Work Education. 55 (1): 5–10. doi:10.1080/10437797.2018.1517624. S2CID 150751783. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  4. ↑ Vasché, James Burton (1940) “$100 Doctors”: The Facts on Today’s Degree Mill Racket. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas, 15(3), pp.159-163. (subscription required)
  5. ↑ Sigrist, J. (1949). "Beware the Mind-Meddler". American Journal of Psychotherapy, 3(1), pp.162-163. (subscription required)
  6. ↑ "Metaphysics". phil uga edu. University of Georgia. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  7. ↑ Sofroniou, Andreas (2016). Metaphysics Facts and Fallacies. Andreas Sofroniou. p. 17. ISBN 978-1-326-80745-0. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  8. ↑ John, Walton C. (1938). School Life. Washington D.C.: United States Department of the Interior Government Printing Office. p. 245. Retrieved 8 July 2022. There is seldom of anything of genuine value created by man that, sooner or later, is not found in counterfeit form.


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