About and For

Against Empathy: the Case for Rational Compassion by Paul Bloom
Ecco, December 6, 2016

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Empathy seems to be an ultimate and unlimited good. That is, we can never have enough. If only we “walked in others’ shoes” all the time – if only we worked to feel others’ pain – then those glimpses into their lives would spur on greater selflessness, thus making the world a better place. Paul Bloom provocatively disagrees. In Against Empathy, the Yale professor describes the pitfalls of empathy as a moral anchor. He argues, with abundant research, that empathy is biased, leading us to favor those most like ourselves. Since empathy is predominantly a feeling, it is not especially attuned to helping us reason critically. In fact, it is statistically illiterate; empathy hampers our ability to make both rational and ethical choices and is therefore dangerous for policy-making. In addition, relying too heavily on empathic feeling leaves the empathizer drained, and consequently, less generous. Bloom is not heartless. Instead, he argues that we should employ compassion. Rather than thinking with people, as empathy does, we should think about and for others, which is compassion. Many independent schools’ missions aim to develop character, critical thinking, and leadership. Understanding the potential risks of over-teaching – and over-practicing – empathy, and considering better means to developing servant-leaders, makes Bloom’s book essential reading.