Moral philosopher Peter Singer, known for his work on utilitarianism and animal rights, discusses his impactful 'shallow pond' analogy. He emphasizes the pursuit of moral evaluation through objective measures. Paul Bloom, a psychology professor, challenges the common perception of empathy, arguing that it's often a moral hindrance rather than a benefit. The conversation also touches upon the complexities of ethical decision-making, the role of rationality in morality, and the interplay between cultural values and moral frameworks.
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Moral Realism vs. Anti-Realism
Moral realism posits objective moral truths exist, like "it's better to feed a starving creature than withhold food."
Moral anti-realism, conversely, suggests all moral sentiments are subjective and biased.
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Hume's Is-Ought Problem
David Hume's is-ought distinction argues you can't derive an "ought" from an "is": no description of the universe dictates how it should be.
This fuels moral anti-realism, suggesting science has no say in morality, leaving it purely subjective.
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Singer's Shallow Pond
Peter Singer's "shallow pond" analogy questions if buying luxury items instead of donating to save a child's life is morally equivalent to letting a child drown.
This challenges our moral intuitions about acts of omission versus commission.
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In this book, Sam Harris challenges the traditional separation between scientific facts and human values. He argues that morality can be understood in terms of human and animal well-being, and that science can provide objective answers to moral questions. Harris contends that moral relativism is false and that science can tell us how we ought to live to achieve the greatest well-being. He uses his expertise in philosophy and neuroscience to make a case for a science of morality, emphasizing that moral values should be grounded in empirical facts about what causes people to flourish.
Against Empathy
The Case for Rational Compassion
Paul Bloom
In 'Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion,' Paul Bloom challenges the conventional wisdom that empathy is a moral guide. He argues that empathy, defined as feeling what others feel, is a capricious and irrational emotion that can lead to poor decision-making and even cruelty. Bloom contends that empathy distorts our judgment in various aspects of life, from philanthropy and justice to medical care and education. He advocates for a more distanced compassion based on rational, deliberative reasoning and a utilitarian approach to moral decisions. The book is grounded in scientific findings and explores the limitations and biases of empathy, suggesting that clearer, fairer, and more moral decisions can be made without relying on it.
In this episode, we try to trace morality to its elusive foundations. Throughout the compilation we take a look at Sam’s “Moral Landscape” and his effort to defend an objective path towards moral evaluation.
We begin with the moral philosopher Peter Singer who outlines his famous “shallow pond” analogy and the framework of utilitarianism. We then hear from the moral psychologist Paul Bloom who makes the case against empathy and points out how it is more often a “bug” in our moral software than a “feature.” Later, William MacAskill describes the way a utilitarian philosophy informs his engagement with the Effective Altruism movement.
The moral psychologist Jonathan Haidt then puts pressure on Sam’s emphasis on rationality and objective pathways towards morality by injecting a healthy dose of psychological skepticism into the conversation.
After, we hear a fascinating exchange with the historian Dan Carlin where he and Sam tangle on the fraught issues of cultural relativism.
We end by exploring the intersection of technological innovation and moral progress with the entrepreneur Uma Valeti, whom Sam seeks out when he encounters his own collision with a personal moral failure.
About the Series
Filmmaker Jay Shapiro has produced The Essential Sam Harris, a new series of audio documentaries exploring the major topics that Sam has focused on over the course of his career.
Each episode weaves together original analysis, critical perspective, and novel thought experiments with some of the most compelling exchanges from the Making Sense archive. Whether you are new to a particular topic, or think you have your mind made up about it, we think you’ll find this series fascinating.
Making Sense with Sam Harris 
