Paul Bloom (who's provocatively-titled book Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion is prominently discussed in the article) says something like the f

Paul Bloom (who's provocatively-titled book Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion is prominently discussed in the article) says something like the following: "For example, consider long-distance charity. Someone who hears about the sorrow of starving children might actually go through the empathetic exercise of imagining what it is like to starve to death. But this empathetic distress surely isn’t necessary for charitable giving. A compassionate person might value others’ lives in the abstract, and, recognizing the misery caused by starvation, be motivated to act accordingly." It sure makes someone pause and think, but not quite sure how accurate it is in the realm of reality. Bloom's talk feels a bit like clever verbal judo to me. But what do I know...