A radically new perspective on our moral lives.
In *What Makes Us Good or Bad* , Paul Bloom, a leading cognitive scientist, argues that human beings come into the world with a sense of morality. Drawing on groundbreaking research conducted at Yale University, Bloom demonstrates that, even before they can talk or walk, babies judge the goodness and badness of others' actions, feel empathy and compassion, act to soothe those in distress, and have a rudimentary sense of justice. Yet, this innate morality sometimes has tragic limitations.
Bringing together insights from psychology, behavioral economics, evolutionary biology, and philosophy, Bloom explores how we learn to overcome these limitations. Brilliant, straightforward, witty, and intellectually probing.
"The reader comes to Paul Bloom captivated by his unfailingly brilliant psychological research, and is captivated by the witty, easygoing way in which he writes." —JIM HOLT, author of Why the World Exists?
"The rich cognitive and moral lives of babies are among the most fascinating discoveries of 21st-century psychology. Paul Bloom explains how their workings illuminate human nature, and he does so with his trademark clarity, depth, insight, and elegance." — STEVEN PINKER, professor of psychology at Harvard University, author of How the Mind Works
" What Makes Us Good or Evil is an extremely important book. Today, there is a widespread belief that morality is unrealistic: our evolutionary instincts are purely selfish. We are also told that human society is built on irrational impulses, that reason and free will are worthless. A renowned experimental psychologist, but also a specialist reader in philosophy, Bloom forcefully combats both of these misconceptions." — MARTHA C. NUSSBAUM, professor of law and philosophy, University of Chicago, author of The Fragility of Goodness
" What Makes Us Good or Bad is a fascinating and original exploration of our sense of right and wrong. Bloom and his colleagues examine the mysteries of morality by playing with babies, and in this smart and elegant book, he demonstrates the profound lessons we can learn from their responses. After reading it, you'll never look at a baby the same way again." — CARL ZIMMER, author of The Tangled Bank
