A controversial call to arms, Against Empathy argues that the natural impulse to share the feelings of others can lead to immoral choices in both public policy and in our intimate relationships with friends and family.

Most people, including many policy-makers, activists, scientists, and philosophers, have encouraged us to be more empathetic—to feel the pain and pleasure of others. Yale researcher and author Paul Bloom argues that this is a mistake. Far from leading 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 often leads to cruelty. We are at our best when we are smart enough not to rely on it, and draw upon a more distanced compassion.

Based on groundbreaking scientific findings, Against Empathy makes the case that some of the worst decisions that individuals and nations make—from who to give money to, when to go to war, how to respond to climate change, and who to put in prison—are too often motivated by honest, yet misplaced emotions. With clear and witty prose, Bloom demonstrates how empathy distorts our judgment in every aspect of our lives, from philanthropy and charity to the justice system; from culture and education to foreign policy and war. Without empathy, Bloom insists, our decisions would be clearer, fairer, and ultimately more moral.

Bound to be controversial, Against Empathy shows us that, when it comes to major policy decisions and the choices we make in our everyday lives, limiting our empathetic emotions is often the most compassionate choice we can make.

[加]保羅·布盧姆（Paul Bloom）

● 知名認知心理學傢和發展心理學傢、耶魯大學公開課zui受歡迎教授、TED演講人。

● 布盧姆是耶魯大學zui受歡迎、zui風趣的心理學教授之一。他的心理學導論課是耶魯大學zui受歡迎的公開課之一，全球有上韆萬人觀看、學習這一公開課的視頻。

● 布盧姆是《科學》雜誌評齣的Twitter上zui有影響力的50位明星科學傢之一，美國哲學與心理學協會前任主席，《行為與腦科學》雜誌聯閤主編。

● 布盧姆因齣色的研究和教學工作而獲奬無數。他的文章屢見於《紐約時報雜誌》《自然》《紐約客》《科學》等刊物。著有暢銷書《善惡之源》《快感：為什麼它讓我們欲罷不能》。