It’s probably because he has studied philosophy that he has the critical-thinking skills to be able to distinguish science from belief.
Perhaps scientists should be required to understand basic philosophy for that very reason.
A conversation we once shared was about belief. He articulated that belief is not tangible....that someone might study a system of belief to understand it yet not "believe" what they are researching. That many who fall into cults, new age and such, at some point begin to "believe" what they're researching... and the fall isn't long coming once that "believe" kicks in.
If someone "believes" what they are experiencing is real, even though the evidence proves otherwise, it is very difficult to persuade them otherwise. Which is why so many cults and false religions appeal to emotions and experiences....it baits and traps pretty quickly.