A " Dr. " different from a PhD ?

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Okay , please , PLEASE , don't laugh at me for this question ~ Is a (non-medical) doctorate , a " Dr. " title (in science , literature , theology , whatever ~ NOT an M.D. Clear ? Please ?) the same as a PhD or is a PhD a higher-lever accomplishment on the " Dr. " spectrum ?
Is there a getting a (AGAIN , non-medical .) " Dr. " title that is short of a PhD ?
Is a PhD " bigger " than a " regular " " Dr. " title/doctorate ?
I have fantasized , after Temple Grandin , getting a " Dr. " ~ obviously , belatedly ~ in literature , or history , but I think a " PhD " would be more than I could reach , I hope?? it IS more than a " mere " doctorate ~ This is pretty ridiculous considering I am homeless , with a diabetic wound sleeping in the hills and getting more possible-jail tickets for it and trying to get to Washington State , but ~ anyway : .(

an MD is a medical doctor, while a PhD is a doctor of philosophy. professionally, both are called "dr." socially only MD's and DO's are traditionally called "dr."

I've seen plenty of PhD's referred to as Dr in social situations by people who don't know their first name.

I've heard that some medical doctors sometimes refer to PhD's as "Phony Doctors". Such comments are, of course, signs of ignorance.

In reality, it is medical doctors who are late to the game. Long before medical practitioners were ever referred to as doctors, the term was already used for professors at medieval universities. Prior to that, the term had its origins from the early church.

The word 'Doctor' actually means 'teacher', and the 'Doctorate' is the highest level of academic achievement (there are some informal subtle distinctions within that rank), qualifying one to teach others to an advanced level. The early Church used the term 'Doctor' to acknowledge the contribution of a famous and important teacher of the Faith.

In the UK, the term 'Doctor' as an over-arching term to encompass both physicians and surgeons seems to date from the 19th century (in one 19th century baptism register, a child baptised at birth by an attending physician was descibed as 'baptised by medical man'!) UK medical practitioners qualify by gaining two bachelor degrees, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (of course many go on to obtain higher degrees in their chosen areas of expertise). Traditionally here a doctor is addressed as 'Dr', but a surgeon as 'Mr'! Of course in our older history a surgeon was the lesser practitioner, even a barber with Specialised Carving Skills.......!

Also, technically as a side note lawyers are also technically doctors as they get their "juris doctor" upon graduation. In many non english speaking countries lawyers are also styled doctors but here in the US as in the UK and such lawyers are styled Esq. (esquire).

Really? That's a new one on me! ('Juris Doctor' etc).

Of course Esq is simply an honorific attached to adult males of common birth to indicate the right and duty to bear arms in the service of their monarch (I was shorn of my Esq. on becoming a Clerk in Holy Orders......). So a lawyer is no more an Esq. than any other male of similar status.

True true. Gentlemen are all esquires.

A lawyer is a 'juris doctor' but a lawyer can also earn a separate PhD. in Law and become a legal researcher or professor of Law. Jane Doe JD, PhD.

In Hungary, all lawyers have their Doctorate in Law, as there is no other way to become a lawyer.

And if a psychologist has their doctorate (Ph.D.) they are called Doctor.

And all psychiatrists (M.D.) are also called Doctor.

Going back to the original post (assuming the OP hasn't lost the will to live after reading the replies so far.....):

To my knowledge, Doctorates do have a kind of informal 'hierarchy' within the rank.

Newest (and lowest regarded?) is the modern 'doctorate of practice', where a student earns the degree by completing a variety of assignments always including a major piece of writing (+ or - c 50K words?). The PhD (and D.Sc etc?) is a pure research degree, in which original research leads to a genuine advance in the fund of knowledge regarding the chosen specialist subject. Typically the requirement is for a thesis of around 100K words.

'Advanced doctorates' also exist, but I know little about them I'm afraid. I think these include the D.Lit, and D.D. (Doctor of Divinity, not to be confused with the entirely inferior Doctor of Theology). The D.D. is a rare and highly prized animal, which entitles the holder to a fourth horn on his hat (the biretta). I have neither the funds nor the energy to pursue this lofty state, so I have to content myself with the bog-standard three horned version....

...So there is a " Dr. " title-granting status short of a PhD for studies (NOT an M.D. , that's entirely not what I'm asking about) , then ? You meant that " plus or minus 50,000 words required " for the piece of writing that you have to do ???
Thank you to you , especially , but thank you to all .





uote="ChrisP"]

Going back to the original post (assuming the OP hasn't lost the will to live after reading the replies so far.....):

To my knowledge, Doctorates do have a kind of informal 'hierarchy' within the rank.

Newest (and lowest regarded?) is the modern 'doctorate of practice', where a student earns the degree by completing a variety of assignments always including a major piece of writing (+ or - c 50K words?). The PhD (and D.Sc etc?) is a pure research degree, in which original research leads to a genuine advance in the fund of knowledge regarding the chosen specialist subject. Typically the requirement is for a thesis of around 100K words.

'Advanced doctorates' also exist, but I know little about them I'm afraid. I think these include the D.Lit, and D.D. (Doctor of Divinity, not to be confused with the entirely inferior Doctor of Theology). The D.D. is a rare and highly prized animal, which entitles the holder to a fourth horn on his hat (the biretta). I have neither the funds nor the energy to pursue this lofty state, so I have to content myself with the bog-standard three horned version....[/quote]

We call our profs "Doctor" most of the time at school. They have doctoral degrees but only a few are medical doctors. It's a sign of respect. They don't generally call each other "Doctor", though, so I think perhaps it is something you do if you are the person's student--sort of a title of respect, an acknowledgement that they know things you want to learn.

Anybody with a doctorate (aka PhD) is a doctor. Just because their doctorate is not in the medical field has nothing to do with the title. I've worked with a few doctors of Engineering, who proudly displayed their title on the nameplate to their office.

Don't forget D.Phil! I am married to a D.Phil (Oxon.) Same as Ph.D of course.

A lot of our friends have doctorates of some kind or another. Socially, as someone else pointed out, it's only medical doctors that they refer to as Dr. So-and-so.

We call our professors by their first names.