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Against Empathy
Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion | Paul Bloom
8 posts | 9 read | 1 reading | 7 to read
We often think of our capacity to experience the suffering of others as the ultimate source of goodness. Many of our wisest policy-makers, activists, scientists, and philosophers agree that the only problem with empathy is that we dont have enough of it. Nothing could be farther from the truth, argues Yale researcher Paul Bloom. In AGAINST EMPATHY, Bloom reveals empathy to be one of the leading motivators of inequality and immorality in society. Far from helping us to improve the lives of others, empathy is a capricious and irrational emotion that appeals to our narrow prejudices. It muddles our judgment and, ironically, often leads to cruelty. We are at our best when we are smart enough not to rely on it, but to draw instead upon a more distanced compassion. Basing his argument on groundbreaking scientific findings, Bloom makes the case that some of the worst decisions made by individuals and nationswho to give money to, when to go to war, how to respond to climate change, and who to imprisonare too often motivated by honest, yet misplaced, emotions. With precision and wit, he demonstrates how empathy distorts our judgment in every aspect of our lives, from philanthropy and charity to the justice system; from medical care and education to parenting and marriage. Without empathy, Bloom insists, our decisions would be clearer, fairer, andyesultimately more moral. Brilliantly argued, urgent and humane, AGAINST EMPATHY shows us that, when it comes to both major policy decisions and the choices we make in our everyday lives, limiting our impulse toward empathy is often the most compassionate choice we can make.
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keithmalek
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Vanessa.Rae
Pickpick

****

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CampbellTaraL
Pickpick

The content of the book, and the author's important points, are what makes me rate this as a 'pick'. However, the author has a bad tendency to use multiple metaphors and analogies for every point which bogs the reading down unnecessarily. I also didn't groove on his self-important tone but that may be just my interpretation. Still, empathy is grossly overrated in our culture. The real star is compassion.

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shanaqui
Pickpick

Very good analysis of the ways in which empathy can fail us as a guide to moral action. Though I value empathy, I can't disagree with Bloom's critique, nor his advocacy for rational compassion.

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CampbellTaraL
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Pg. 84

I'm amazed to see this in writing, much less in a book. The current overzealous mantra that high empathy = good person is a problem for those of us autistic people who are viewed as cold, disconnected, or prone to violence due to a lack of empathy. It's simply not true.

Lots of little gems in this book. Admittedly, I'm biased in favor of the author's conclusions RE: empathy, but it's good to see open discourse on the topic.

CampbellTaraL Study cited: "The (Non)Relation between Empathy and Aggression: Surprising Results from a Meta-Analysis" Davis D. Vacuon, et Al. Psychological Bulletin 140 (2014): 16. 6y
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Lindsy
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This month‘s book club pick

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CampbellTaraL
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According to my Twitter feed, today is #WorldBookDay and since I'm currently reading two entertainment books, thought I'd start a nonfiction to balance them out.

🗺️📙📅😀

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Shortnnerdy

Looking forward to this read. Feedback to follow 😃