New comment by sourcinnamon in "The spread of Christianity, from antiquity until today, on an animated map"

sourcinnamon — Fri, 22 May 2026 16:34:47 +0000

The allegedly lack of progress during the "Dark ages" is a narrative constructed later on, during the Illustration/Enlightenment era. Just to mention an example, alchemical research was verly prolific in that time, and it was the basis for what we now call chemistry and pharmacology.

New comment by sourcinnamon in "MIT: 20% drop in incoming graduate students"

sourcinnamon — Thu, 14 May 2026 18:19:05 +0000

I agree that completing a PhD under the time originally agreed may not be good, as you lose some of the learning opportunities that come with the apprenticeship (yes, it is) program.

However, taking more time than the standard length, whatever it is depending on the university or country where you are pursuing the title, is also something universities and specially PIs should be actively avoiding.

Maybe I have this view because I got mine in NL, where a PhD is a job with a defined length (4 years) and if you go over it, you don't get paid. So yes, it is an apprenticeship, but you should not be doing work for free in any case. Becoming an expert and the (relative) independence on how to do your research are of course selling points of the PhD, but a job is a job.

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New comment by sourcinnamon in "The spread of Christianity, from antiquity until today, on an animated map"

New comment by sourcinnamon in "MIT: 20% drop in incoming graduate students"