The Science of Success
Are Babies Racist? Is Empathy Bad for Society? And More with Dr. Paul Bloom
Jan 11, 2024
Dr. Paul Bloom, a psychologist and expert in evolutionary psychology, discusses the biases programmed by evolution and condemns empathy. The podcast explores babies' social understanding and biases, challenges the conventional definition of empathy, prioritizes impact through warm glow altruism, and emphasizes the need to overcome emotional biases.
43:51
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Quick takeaways
- Empathy, although often seen as a positive trait, can be biased, shortsighted, and lead to misguided decision-making and policies.
- Empathy-driven decision-making can be easily manipulated for divisive purposes and can result in misplaced priorities.
Deep dives
The Downsides of Empathy
In this podcast episode, Dr. Paul Bloom discusses the downsides of empathy as a moral guide. He argues that empathy, which involves feeling the pain or emotions of others, is biased, shortsighted, and often leads to misguided decision-making and policies. Bloom emphasizes that while empathy can be beneficial in personal relationships and certain contexts, it can hinder our ability to make rational and effective choices for the greater good. He suggests cultivating compassion, which involves caring for others without necessarily experiencing their emotions, as a more rational and productive approach to moral decision-making.
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