Philosophy is the academic study of abstract first principles that underlie other disciplines. Traditionally, it encompasses the study of metaphysics (the study of being qua being), epistemology (how we know things), logic (how we reason), ethics, and related subjects. Philosophy is not an immediately practical subject, concerned with reforming economies or helping poverty.

There are a few ways in which philosophical training in schools might, over the long term, be helpful in transforming societies. First, one would hope that the study of ethics would make people think more closely about the moral nature of such actions as taking bribes. Second, the training in logic offered in philosophy would generally help people with complex reasoning skills needed to do long term planning. Finally, better education on a national level usually does correlate with less corruption and better economic development.