File this under “Things That Shouldn’t Be Surprising.”

A recent study by the Education Endowment Foundation found that disadvantaged kids perform better in STEM fields after 2 years of studying philosophy.

3,000 school children discussed philosophical concepts, reflected, and practiced dialogging. Their test scores improved in a way that appears to reflect lasting change.

So, it turns out, the notion of philosophy corrupting the youth was fake news.

The value of philosophy is not merely pragmatic. But it is certainly pragmatic. Socrates was not only the best philosopher of Greece, but the best soldier and best politician.