What Do BDSM & Meditation Have In Common? | Professor Paul Bloom | Modern Wisdom Podcast 120

Exploring the Intersections of Pain and Pleasure: Insights from Professor Paul Bloom on the "Modern Wisdom" Podcast

Welcome to a thought-provoking episode of the "Modern Wisdom" Podcast, featuring distinguished guest Professor Paul Bloom. Known for his expertise in psychology and his teaching at Yale, Professor Bloom delves into the fascinating subjects of human nature, morality, empathy, and the surprising links between BDSM and meditation.

Core Concepts and Philosophies

Professor Bloom introduces a range of stimulating ideas: - The paradox of painful pleasure: People's engagement in activities that involve pain, like BDSM or intense physical challenges, which provide deep satisfaction or personal growth. - Morality and Empathy: He discusses the complex nature of empathy, criticizing its role in moral judgment and highlighting its biases.

Practical Strategies and Advice

• Critical examination of empathy: Encourages a skeptical approach towards empathy in moral reasoning, advocating for a shift towards rational compassion.
• Engaging with discomfort: Suggests that confronting uncomfortable truths about our pleasures and pains can lead to greater personal understanding and growth.

Supporting Evidence

Bloom references various studies and psychological theories to back his views, particularly in how empathy can lead to biased moral judgments and how it may be evolutionarily explained by its roles in parenting and social interactions.

Personal Application

Bloom shares his personal curiosity and scholarly pursuit in understanding these paradoxes, embodying a life dedicated to questioning and exploring the edges of conventional wisdom about pleasure, pain, and empathy.

Recommendations for Tools and Techniques

While specific tools or technologies are not discussed, Bloom implicitly recommends a philosophical toolset: - Introspection: Engaging deeply with one's experiences and beliefs. - Critical thinking: Analyzing why we feel what we feel and believe what we believe.

This episode provides a deep dive into the psychological underpinnings of what makes us human, challenging listeners to rethink their perspectives on pain, pleasure, and empathy.