Bloom argues that empathy is not the solution to problems that divide people and is a poor guide for decision making.

[2] Paul Bloom defines empathy the way that Adam Smith describes sympathy in Theory of Moral Sentiments.

Therefore, he suggests that we overcome the problems created by empathy through the use of "conscious, deliberative reasoning in everyday life.

Bloom also explores the neurological differences between feeling and understanding, which are central to demonstrating the limitations of empathy.

[1]: 16,50 Bloom also explains C. Daniel Batson's study on the "empathy-altruism hypothesis" which highlights empathy's biases.

[4] To further his argument, Bloom describes effective altruism and its relationship with cost-benefit analysis decision making.

[clarification needed] In the same vein, Bloom explains that sometimes people commit evil acts in support of their morality, which can be blinded by empathy.

The last chapter discusses concepts also touched in Daniel Kahneman's book, Thinking, Fast and Slow, that suggest people make a series of rational and irrational decisions.