Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion is a 2016 book written by psychologist Paul Bloom. The book draws on the distinctions between empathy, compassion, and moral decision making. Bloom argues that empathy is not the solution to problems that divide people and is a poor guide for decision making. However, he is not completely against empathy; he believes that empathy can motivate kindness to make the world a better place.[1]
Paul Bloom defines empathy the way that Adam Smith describes sympathy in Theory of Moral Sentiments. For Bloom, "[e]mpathy is the act of coming to experience the world as you think someone else does"[1]: 16 [emphasis in original]. He describes empathy as "a spotlight directing attention and aid to where it's needed."[1]: 31 Empathy is an emotion that people mistake as a moral guide for their decision making; Bloom suggests it can blind morality. Empathy is limiting because it directs people's attentions to individuals or individual events, which can misguide certain acts of kindness. Therefore, he suggests that we overcome the problems created by empathy through the use of "conscious, deliberative reasoning in everyday life."[1]: 5
Powers and limitations of empathyEdit
Bloom develops his case for "rational compassion" by discussing acts of kindness and altruism. Bloom believes that people "can make decisions based on considerations of cost and benefits."[1]: 87 He analyzes why and how people act altruistically and explains that oftentimes, empathy motivates people to act for self-serving reasons. Bloom also explores the neurological differences between feeling and understanding, which are central to demonstrating the limitations of empathy. He describes compassion the same way as Buddhist moral philosopher, Charles Goodman, defines Theravāda compassion in the book Consequences of Compassion: An Interpretation and Defense of Buddhist Ethics.[3][1]: 138 With this understanding, Bloom describes empathy as feeling what others feel whereas compassion is "simply caring for people, [and] wanting them to thrive".[1]: 16,50
Empathy versus CompassionEdit
Bloom also explains C. Daniel Batson's study on the "empathy-altruism hypothesis" which highlights empathy's biases. This hypothesis argues that people do acts of kindness due to empathy, but those acts may result in unintended consequences. Part of this is because people's moral evaluations of the people and events around them determine whether people feel empathy towards them.[1]: 70 For example, "you feel more empathy for someone who is cooperating with you than for someone you are in competition with."[1]: 68 It's the feeling of empathy that may influence people to do acts of kindness, or according to Bloom, acts of destruction. On the flip-side, low empathy can merit bad behavior.[4]
To further his argument, Bloom describes effective altruism and its relationship with cost-benefit analysis decision making. He explains that rationalizing acts of kindness is a more effective guide for moral decisions than empathy. However, according to Bloom and a number of psychologists, people still make decisions using empathy without using rationality.[4]
Rational decision makingEdit
Bloom finishes the book by explaining how empathy is related to anger and evil. He explains how violence and anger can be products of empathy and that these things lead to evil. Evil, according to Bloom, is caused by dehumanization and objectification, processes which are caused in part by an abundance of empathy for the self.[clarification needed] In the same vein, Bloom explains that sometimes people commit evil acts in support of their morality, which can be blinded by empathy.
The last chapter discusses concepts also touched in Daniel Kahneman's book, Thinking, Fast and Slow, that suggest people make a series of rational and irrational decisions.[1]: 214 He criticizes the argument that "regardless of reason's virtues, we just aren't any good at it." His point is that people are not as "stupid as scholars think they are."[1]: 216 He explains that people are rational because they make thoughtful decisions in their everyday lives. For example, when someone has to make a big life decision they critically assess the outcomes, consequences, and alternative options.[1]: 230 Ultimately, Bloom argues for a utilitarian approach to acts of altruism instead of empathy.[citation needed]
ReceptionEdit
This book received mixed reviews. The New York Times referred to the book as a "a bit too clotted with caveats to be a seamless read" and questioned some of Bloom's assertions, but called the book "invigorating" and "an overt, joyful conversation with readers."[5]The Guardian agreed with Bloom's case for rational compassion on the basis that rational compassion was more valuable than empathy.[6]
^Illing, Sean (2017-01-19). "The case against empathy". Vox. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
^Gross, Rita (2010). "Review of Charles Goodman, Consequences of Compassion: An Interpretation and Defense of Buddhist Ethics". Sophia. 49 (2): 311–313. doi:10.1007/s11841-010-0176-6. S2CID 170228849.
Goodman, Charles (2009). Consequences of Compassion: An Interpretation and Defense of Buddhist Ethics. New York, New York: Oxford University Press, Inc. p. 50. ISBN9780195375190.
^ abRyan, David L. (2018-02-23). "Paul Bloom: Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion". Society. 55 (2): 216–217. doi:10.1007/s12115-018-0236-z. ISSN 0147-2011. S2CID 148697244.
^Senior, Jennifer (2016-12-06). "Review: 'Against Empathy,' or the Right Way to Feel Someone's Pain". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
^Vickers, Sally (2017). "Against Empathy by Paul Bloom; The Empathy Instinct by Peter Bazalgette - review". The Guardian.
August 27, 2023
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Against Empathy The Case for Rational Compassion is a 2016 book written by psychologist Paul Bloom The book draws on the distinctions between empathy compassion and moral decision making Bloom argues that empathy is not the solution to problems that divide people and is a poor guide for decision making However he is not completely against empathy he believes that empathy can motivate kindness to make the world a better place 1 Against Empathy The Case for Rational CompassionAuthorPaul BloomCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishSubjectPsychology empathyGenreNon fictionPublisherEcco BooksPublication date2016ISBN978 0 06 233934 8The book received mixed reviews Some reviewers critiqued Bloom s case against empathy maintaining their belief that empathy is a useful tool 2 Contents 1 Definition of Empathy 2 Powers and limitations of empathy 3 Empathy versus Compassion 4 Rational decision making 5 Reception 6 See also 7 ReferencesDefinition of Empathy EditPaul Bloom defines empathy the way that Adam Smith describes sympathy in Theory of Moral Sentiments For Bloom e mpathy is the act of coming to experience the world as you think someone else does 1 16 emphasis in original He describes empathy as a spotlight directing attention and aid to where it s needed 1 31 Empathy is an emotion that people mistake as a moral guide for their decision making Bloom suggests it can blind morality Empathy is limiting because it directs people s attentions to individuals or individual events which can misguide certain acts of kindness Therefore he suggests that we overcome the problems created by empathy through the use of conscious deliberative reasoning in everyday life 1 5 Powers and limitations of empathy EditBloom develops his case for rational compassion by discussing acts of kindness and altruism Bloom believes that people can make decisions based on considerations of cost and benefits 1 87 He analyzes why and how people act altruistically and explains that oftentimes empathy motivates people to act for self serving reasons Bloom also explores the neurological differences between feeling and understanding which are central to demonstrating the limitations of empathy He describes compassion the same way as Buddhist moral philosopher Charles Goodman defines Theravada compassion in the book Consequences of Compassion An Interpretation and Defense of Buddhist Ethics 3 1 138 With this understanding Bloom describes empathy as feeling what others feel whereas compassion is simply caring for people and wanting them to thrive 1 16 50 Empathy versus Compassion EditBloom also explains C Daniel Batson s study on the empathy altruism hypothesis which highlights empathy s biases This hypothesis argues that people do acts of kindness due to empathy but those acts may result in unintended consequences Part of this is because people s moral evaluations of the people and events around them determine whether people feel empathy towards them 1 70 For example you feel more empathy for someone who is cooperating with you than for someone you are in competition with 1 68 It s the feeling of empathy that may influence people to do acts of kindness or according to Bloom acts of destruction On the flip side low empathy can merit bad behavior 4 To further his argument Bloom describes effective altruism and its relationship with cost benefit analysis decision making He explains that rationalizing acts of kindness is a more effective guide for moral decisions than empathy However according to Bloom and a number of psychologists people still make decisions using empathy without using rationality 4 Rational decision making EditBloom finishes the book by explaining how empathy is related to anger and evil He explains how violence and anger can be products of empathy and that these things lead to evil Evil according to Bloom is caused by dehumanization and objectification processes which are caused in part by an abundance of empathy for the self clarification needed In the same vein Bloom explains that sometimes people commit evil acts in support of their morality which can be blinded by empathy The last chapter discusses concepts also touched in Daniel Kahneman s book Thinking Fast and Slow that suggest people make a series of rational and irrational decisions 1 214 He criticizes the argument that regardless of reason s virtues we just aren t any good at it His point is that people are not as stupid as scholars think they are 1 216 He explains that people are rational because they make thoughtful decisions in their everyday lives For example when someone has to make a big life decision they critically assess the outcomes consequences and alternative options 1 230 Ultimately Bloom argues for a utilitarian approach to acts of altruism instead of empathy citation needed Reception EditThis book received mixed reviews The New York Times referred to the book as a a bit too clotted with caveats to be a seamless read and questioned some of Bloom s assertions but called the book invigorating and an overt joyful conversation with readers 5 The Guardian agreed with Bloom s case for rational compassion on the basis that rational compassion was more valuable than empathy 6 See also EditIdentifiable victim effectReferences Edit a b c d e f g h i j k l Bloom Paul 2016 Against Empathy The Case for Rational Compassion Ecco ISBN 978 0 06 233935 5 Illing Sean 2017 01 19 The case against empathy Vox Retrieved 2019 10 15 Gross Rita 2010 Review of Charles Goodman Consequences of Compassion An Interpretation and Defense of Buddhist Ethics Sophia 49 2 311 313 doi 10 1007 s11841 010 0176 6 S2CID 170228849 Goodman Charles 2009 Consequences of Compassion An Interpretation and Defense of Buddhist Ethics New York New York Oxford University Press Inc p 50 ISBN 9780195375190 a b Ryan David L 2018 02 23 Paul Bloom Against Empathy The Case for Rational Compassion Society 55 2 216 217 doi 10 1007 s12115 018 0236 z ISSN 0147 2011 S2CID 148697244 Senior Jennifer 2016 12 06 Review Against Empathy or the Right Way to Feel Someone s Pain The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2019 11 01 Vickers Sally 2017 Against Empathy by Paul Bloom The Empathy Instinct by Peter Bazalgette review The Guardian Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Against Empathy amp oldid 1143092277, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
