Episode 104: Smelling Salts for Morality: Our Top 3 Movies About Empathy (with Paul Bloom)

Paul Bloom takes some time away from his "Waking Up" appearances to join us for a very special movie episode: our top three films about empathy. Can movies help us understand the experiences of people who live completely different lives? Do serial killers need empathy to effectively torture their victims? Does empathy make you want to blow up the world, or lead naked men into black liquid-y voids? Plus Paul and David try to bully Tamler into watching "Westworld." Also, buy Paul's new book (link below) "Against Empathy"! [Note: this episode is heavy on the spoilers. If you're worried, check the links below--they contain the titles for each movie in the order discussed on the podcast]. Special Guest: Paul Bloom. Support Very Bad Wizards Links: Against Empathy by Paul Bloom [amazon.com affiliate link] Paul Bloom on Sam Harris' "Waking Up" podcast Review: ‘Against Empathy,’ or the Right Way to Feel Someone’s Pain - The New York Times Ex Machina (2015) - IMDb (Paul's Pick) The Revenant (2015) - IMDb (David's Pick) Nightcrawler (2014) - IMDb (Tamler's Pick) Never Let Me Go (2010) - IMDb (Tamler's Pick) The Cabin in the Woods (2012) - IMDb (Paul's Pick) Tangerine (2015) - IMDb (David's Pick) Sullivan's Travels (1941) - IMDb (Tamler's Pick) Break Music: Built-In Frown by peez [soundcloud.com] The Silence of the Lambs (1991) - IMDb (Paul's Pick) Being John Malkovich (1999) - IMDb (David's Pick) Under the Skin (2013) - IMDb (Tamler's Pick)