Agreeableness and academic success

I was reminded of a discussion from a few years ago about philosophers “seeming smart” by hearing about a recent study investigating correlations between features of personality (measured by others, as opposed to self-reported) and academic success.

The study’s results suggest (in line with previous findings) that “conscientiousness” and “openness” are both significant predictors of academic success.

Interestingly, in this study a small but significant correlation was found between “agreeableness” as rated by others and academic success. Agreeableness is characterized here as “reflecting tendencies to be peaceful, tolerant, warm and accommodating” and said to be “linked with prosocial tendencies, in contrast with antagonistic behavior”.

Post from Former Colorado Chair

David Boonin, former Colorado Philosophy chair, writes:

there were indeed a number of complaints about certain members of the Department of the sort their statement identifies, the Department on its own was in fact unable to satisfactorily address them, and while the process by which the Department came to have an external chair and to be on the receiving end of some quite harsh treatment by the administration has most certainly been painful, the Department has just as certainly benefited from some of the strong and decisive actions to which my colleagues refer.

For the full text of his comment, go here.