When I was an undergrad myself, I used to think these courses were certainly necessary but not really philosophy. It was more like the 'tutorial' level of a videogame, where you grasped the basic controls so you could understand how to play. In my mind 'real' philosophy courses were about critically examining the ideas of major figures in philosophy. What I see now, however, is a little different. Reasoning courses certainly teach us the basics of how to think well, but they are also an opportunity for meditation on some of the most important questions of philosophy: what is a good philosopher and what is philosophy about?
For many teenagers, myself included, philosophy starts out as a self-aggrandizing practice. We come to the discussion hoping to prove that we are intelligent, at least more intelligent than our interlocutor, and that we are mature enough to know the 'truth' about philosophical questions. This is a very exciting opportunity for young people, as up to this point in our loves we may not have had much autonomy or recognition from our community. The freedom, excitement and pride that come with moving into a dorm room isn't that different from the feeling of being invited to tackle a subject like abortion. It's perfectly normal and healthy to feel excited to prove oneself in philosophical combat, but it's only a phase of development.
Over the course of a reasoning skills course, students gradually learn the skills and rules of argumentation, but they also learn about why those skills and rules are in place. Someone who sees themselves as a combatant might resort to any kind of sophistry to get their way and assert themselves, or they might, like a knight, see their dignity as a combatant in following some kind of code. In examining the rules if argumentation and why we follow them, still others might see themselves as part of a philosophical team, examining problems from all angles to come as close to the truth as possible. Reasoning skills courses invite a more complex understanding of our role in philosophical discourse.
The last two types, the knight and the team member, will certainly learn something about philosophical humility: being prepared to admit when they are wrong, and being prepared to listen and learn from others, even marginalized groups with unique experiences, to improve their own work.
I used to have a little aphorism I would share with my friends, almost as an inside joke, 'real philosophy is about constantly getting over yourself.' No matter what you believe, there may come a time when you realize you are wrong. Philosophy is about being able to get over yourself and keep going in those moments. Not to let being wrong crush you. Being able to accept that the values you hold at the deepest part if you will always be changing, and that you will survive it. You might think that holding such a belief would lead you to be superficial and nonchalant about your life, but I've found the people who really understand this process are some of the joyous ones I know. In the end, this is what I really want for my students. Not to be great philosophers in some professional sense, but to learn to be critical and humble enough to not attach their sense of self to always being right.
