Pope sends direct message to Ben

[Ben Kenobi]

A driven, enthusiastic amateur will know more than an average degree student. IMO.

Which is why I know more than you about Astrophysics. Nice sword. Interesting how it cuts both ways.

[Ben Kenobi]

Empty thrones always have claimants. What exactly do you think would have happened? If you Which wasn't what we are discussing and has basically no relevance.

That's a good question. Henry VII had no real royal blood whatsoever. Elizabeth was the highest ranked heiress from the York side. All the legit Lancastrians had been killed.

Without the Tudors, it was unlikely that the Scottish throne would have had the Queen of Scots either. I would say that had the throne been empty - we would have seen the Portuguese take over, or the Spanish, both of whom had claims.

Not really, it's an interesting fact but has no bearing on how someone performed as a ruler.

True, but she wasn't queen even though she should have been Elizabeth the first, and she's whom our second and now third Elizabeth were named after. You don't think that's significant?

It doesn't take talent or intelligence to get someone pregnant.

Then why don't we have a Tudor dynasty today?

Except that it isn't taught that Henry conquered Wales, it's just another interesting aspect of his reign that the joining of the nations officially happened then.

So why don't we hear more of Edward who actually had the more interesting reign?

You seem to have a rather weird obsession with this stuff. He ruled until his natural death, as did two of his daughters. In terms of rulers, that's really not a bad result.

The strange thing is that neither he nor Bolingbroke have any connection with any of the present royal family.

The Royal Navy was established under Henry VIII. Trying to dilute that because his dad built a drydock is pretty bizarre.

Half the navy was built by Henry VII. Henry VII provided the funds and the means by which the navy could be expanded. It's true that Henry VIII built on top of his father's foundation, but it's not like there was no navy previous.

Because the duties and responsibilities of the modern monarchy hold nothing like those of the past. It's a stupid comparison.

I would argue that Elizabeth who has travelled further than any monarch, all around the world - that the duties and responsibilities have increased, not decreased.

Luckily the performance of monarchy is not usually judged on their number of air miles.

If we're charting global influence... Wouldn't you say that the Queen who travels the Commonwealth and established a real connection with her subjects around the world is far greater than one who never travelled outside of England?

In thinking that the only thing that matters about a woman's rule is whether she had children.

Never said that. Every single monarch and member of the European royal family is related to Victoria by blood. THAT is an accomplishment.

Oh that and whether she was a good Catholic of course.

Victoria was a good Catholic?

Except she demonstrably didn't.

She's number two behind her father on the 'royal executions for heresy' list.

Show a little intellectual honesty for once in your life.

What? It's true - she executed more than every other king save Henry VIII.

Which is why the Scots threw her off the throne, and she spent 18 years scheming under house arrest until her execution. A clear example of a great ruler. If you're a Republican.

As opposed to Democrats who revere an autocrat like Henry VIII who had 6 wives, murdered two and broke with the Catholic church because they wouldn't let him get divorced.

[Aeson]

The vast majority of students never use the vast majority of the things they learn in school. No matter what they study. Which raises the question: what is the purpose of education in general?

Keeping kids out of the workforce as long as possible so that older folk can enjoy their jobs a little while longer ... ?

[Elok]

The vast majority of students never use the vast majority of the things they learn in school. No matter what they study. Which raises the question: what is the purpose of education in general?

[Felch]

Liberal arts degrees are little more than proof of literacy.

[rah]

I'll admit that the more technical a field the more likely that school will be more helpful, but it still isn't the ultimate. Experience can trump formal education.

BUT we were talking about a history degree. HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA

[The Mad Monk]

I know I shouldn't have said easy. Can't resist taunting the engineers.

But it's so much fun when they get their hackles up! How can you resist?

[giblets]

I think there is some truth there. I also believe that one of the great benefits of an undergraduate degree is teaching someone how to think...a trait so many in society lack.

Didn't work so well with Ben...

[Hauldren Collider]

I know I shouldn't have said easy. Can't resist taunting the engineers.

Rest of the point still stands though. Computer history is full of enthusiastic self taught amateurs (many of whom of course turned pro), not many Computer Science graduates in the 70s.

You can learn a lot of computer science on your own, but that doesn't mean that the university isn't providing a valuable service. There will probably be significant gaps in your knowledge.

[Hauldren Collider]

You don't design microarchitectures with only a BS in electrical engineering, either.

Some of my friends working at Intel would be interested to hear from you that they're not actually designing microarchitectures.

[Hauldren Collider]

You need to study calculus so you can understand the mathematics behind a great number of engineering and scientific disciplines

[The Mad Monk]

I think most schooling is like that -- or should be. Why do you need to study calculus? So you can wrap your brain around other difficult to understand things when they come up.

[PLATO]

I've got a degree in Astrophysics. I think the main point of an undergraduate degree is to give you an insight into how much there is to know, and little you know about a subject.

I think there is some truth there. I also believe that one of the great benefits of an undergraduate degree is teaching someone how to think...a trait so many in society lack.

[MikeH]

Just had a look at wikipedia on microarchitectures as with most science and engineering stuff on wikipedia it's a very good starting point.

[The Mad Monk]

I'm not talking about putting 555 timers on a breadboard. You don't design microarchitectures as a hobby.

Engineering degrees are about building actual human capital, not some philosophical humbling to respect your own ignorance. Maybe that's a side benefit. Regardless, for example, I'm learning things in my CS classes to apply later in my career.

A senior in ECE at carnegie mellon isn't doing things that are "easy" or can just be picked up from surfing wikipedia.

You don't design microarchitectures with only a BS in electrical engineering, either.