A recent NRC article (17 July 2025) highlights a groundbreaking empirical study suggesting that philosophy students significantly outperform their peers in rational reasoning skills. Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Wake Forest University analyzed standardized test data from nearly half a million U.S. students spanning three decades.
The results indicate that philosophy students not only excel in logical reasoning and conceptual analysis but also display intellectual virtues such as curiosity, humility, and open-mindedness more frequently than others.
Importantly, the researchers controlled for pre-existing differences and socio-economic background, strengthening their conclusions.
While the study does not address all dimensions of philosophical training—such as differences between analytical and continental traditions—it does offer compelling support for the enduring belief that philosophy cultivates the ability to think critically, clearly, and with intellectual integrity.
- More information
Read the full article (in Dutch) on the website of the NRC.
