2021/05/04 by Pieter C. van der Kruit, van der Kruit, Pieter C.
Physics and Astronomy · Social Sciences · #Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA) #FOS: Physical sciences #Historical Astronomy and Related Studies #Historical Influence and Diplomacy #History and Developments in Astronomy #History and Philosophy of Physics (physics.hist-ph)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2105.01507
openalex publication_date 2021/05/04 · openalex created_date 2021/05/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Honorary degrees and particularly doctorates are important instruments to enhance the standing of universities and professors, in addition to receiving these as a measure of a scientist's recognition. Jacobus C. Kapteyn from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, one of the most prominent astronomers of his times, received three of these and has persuaded his university to award at least three, possibly five. I examine the background of the selection of the latter in view of developments in Kapteyn's times in his career, international astronomy and political and cultural circumstances.