The Science of Bias, Empathy, and Dehumanization, Paul Bloom , Big Think

The Science of Bias, Empathy, and Dehumanization, Paul Bloom Watch the newest video from Big Think: Join Big Think Edge for exclusive videos: Empathy moves us, but it may move us to make an unethical decision. Conversely, says Bloom, dehumanization is not the ultimate evil we typically assume it to be. Yale psychologist Paul Bloom likens empathy to a spotlight, shining down brightly to illuminate an actor on a stage. The analogy brings together two opposed camps: those who feel empathy is essential to making good ethical choices, and those who, like Bloom, feel that empathy is just another word for bias. As he explains, bias can be good or bad, but it always emphasizes the suffering of a small group at the expense of a larger set of people. Empathy moves us, but it may move us to make an unethical decision. Conversely, says Bloom, dehumanization is not the ultimate evil we typically assume it to be. Paul Bloom s most recent book is Against