A philosophy major is not a poor financial instrument because it&#x27;s not financial instrument at all. Education has aims other than making investors money.<p>As a practical matter, philosophy is typically studied by those who will go on to law school, a Masters in something employable, or as part of a minor or &quot;core curriculum&quot; alongside a trade.<p>In most of the liberal arts and humanities - <i>particularly</i> philosophy, a graduate from a reputable institution will have extremely sharp critical thinking and writing skills. A philosophy major&#x27;s daily grind is very similar to proof-based math. Across the disciplines, people are mostly writing papers that argue positions. Particularly at top-tier institutions, those papers are held to a high standard for quality of argument, evidence, and style. It may not correspond directly to an efficient way to turn capital into more capital, but it&#x27;s hardly a &quot;waste.&quot;