I have never taken a single philosophy class.

I have published scientific papers.

I would argue, then, that I have advanced science without studying philosophy directly. As have the majority of scientists I know.

If a bright student wants to make a contribution to science, I would also argue that they don’t need to take philosophy classes unless they want to. They should, however, find time to do research in the area that they are interested in. That’s a whole lot more important than taking a philosophy class in school when it comes to learning if you will actually love what you do.

Not necessarily related, but WTF is “psuedoscience” that the author says he is an expert in?

Massimo Pigliucci is a biologist and philosopher at the City University of New York. His main interests are in the philosophy of science and pseudoscience. He is the editor-in-chief of Scientia Salon, and his latest book (co-edited with Maarten Boudry) is Philosophy of Pseudoscience: Reconsidering the Demarcation Problem (Chicago Press).