system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5:What does it means to be given an "Honorary Degree" and why do institutions do this?

Does an Honorary Degree really hold any merit, or is it just for show?
gpt
It depends.  Sometimes it's just given to link a university with a famous person.  Other times it's given to people who have done private work in that area but they don't hold an actual degree in it.  Think of some sort of "mad" scientist working in his garage but doesn't actually have a degree but ends up discovering or inventing something worthwhile.