Against Empathy

Outline

Against Empathy (2016) challenges the popular belief that empathy, feeling what others feel, is always a force for good. Paul Bloom argues that empathy works like a spotlight: it focuses on individuals we can see and identify with, and can make us biased and short-sighted. He makes the case for rational compassion, which combines genuine care for others with clear thinking about how to help them best.

• Empathy, feeling what others feel, is widely seen as always good, but Bloom challenges that belief.
• Empathy works like a spotlight, focusing on individuals we can see and identify with.
• Because of that narrow focus, empathy can make us biased and short-sighted.
• Rational compassion pairs genuine care for others with clear thinking about how to help them best.

Paul Bloom is a Canadian-American psychologist and professor at the University of Toronto and professor emeritus at Yale University. He studies how children and adults understand the world, with a focus on morality, pleasure, and the imagination. His books include Just Babies, Against Empathy, and The Sweet Spot.