When I started my journey as an entrepreneur, I believed that only business books, MBA courses, or case studies could sharpen my thinking. But recently, I came across strong evidence that made me rethink this belief.
It turns out studying philosophy can actually make us better thinkers. Not just in theory, but in a very practical, measurable way.
A large study published in August 2025, analysing over 6 lakh students from more than 800 colleges in the US, found that philosophy majors outperformed all other majors in critical thinking, reasoning, and intellectual habits.
The Numbers Don’t Lie (And They Surprised Me)
Researchers looked at 600,000+ college students across America. Philosophy majors consistently outperformed everyone else on reasoning tests – by 33 points on average.
But here’s what caught my attention: this wasn’t just because smart kids choose philosophy. Even average students became significantly better thinkers after studying it. The concluded findings of this research showed:
- Philosophy majors scored 33 points higher on GRE verbal reasoning than non-philosophy majors.
- On the LSAT, their average score was 157 vs 155 for others.
- Philosophy ranked 1st out of 57 majors in GRE verbal reasoning, LSAT scores, and intellectual habits.
Now, you might ask: why should an Indian entrepreneur care about GRE or LSAT scores? The point is not the exams but what these scores measure: critical thinking, reasoning, and clarity in communication.
These are exactly the skills we need when pitching to investors, negotiating with clients, or making strategic choices.
Philosophy for Children – Proof from Early Learning
Another interesting finding is from Philosophy for Children (P4C) programmes. And this programme shows remarkable results:
- Meta-analysis (combining results from multiple studies) of 30 studies → Critical thinking improved by 0.89 effect size (huge).
- Kids became more curious, creative, and problem-solving orientated.
- Benefits lasted over time.
Now, imagine if Indian schools included such programmes early on! Our future workforce would not just memorise but actually think.
And as entrepreneurs, we would get employees who are more curious, innovative, and problem-solving by nature.
So the takeaway? Philosophy students consistently show sharper thinking and clearer communication.
What Philosophy Actually Trains Us To Do
Neuroscience studies say that when we do philosophical discussions, multiple brain areas light up. It teaches us to:
- How to think clearly: break a messy problem into simple parts.
- Ask better questions: what is the core assumption? What evidence do I have?
- Communicate simply: cut jargon, get to the point, and get buy-in.
- Do negotiations: you see both sides clearly before agreeing.
- Become a better leader: you question your own blind spots before guiding the team.
- Stay open yet firm: listen well, adjust fast, and decide with confidence.
- Make the right decisions: you analyse calmly instead of reacting emotionally.
In short, philosophy is not something that should be kept in the background. It’s a daily toolkit for decisions, debates, and direction.
Practical Steps That Worked for Me
Start small. Pick one business assumption you’ve never questioned. Maybe it’s your target audience, pricing strategy, or product features. Then, ask these five questions:
- Why do I believe this is true?
- What evidence supports this belief?
- What would someone from a different background think?
- What am I not seeing?
- What would happen if the opposite were true?
Try this for one week. Document your insights.
I do this monthly now. Last time, I questioned our content marketing strategy. Realised we were targeting entrepreneurs like myself – educated, English-speaking, urban. But our actual customers were much more diverse. We adjusted our approach and saw a 25% improvement in engagement.
But There’s a Messy Reality About Philosophy
Learning to think philosophically isn’t smooth. I made mistakes:
- Overthinking simple decisions
- Getting stuck in analysis paralysis
- Annoying team members with too many questions
But gradually, I found the balance. Philosophy is all about thinking clearly before acting.
My Final Take
So, does studying philosophy make people better thinkers? Yes, absolutely. The evidence is clear: philosophy teaches us some very practical skills, from schoolchildren to college students to working professionals.
As entrepreneurs in India, we don’t necessarily need to enrol in a philosophy degree. But we can:
- Read introductory philosophy books.
- Join discussion forums, or
- Simply practise asking deeper questions about our own decisions.
In a world where AI, automation, and data are everywhere, the one skill that will set us apart is thinking clearly.
And that’s where PHILOSOPHY comes in.
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