Almost Quote by Paul Bloom
“Almost nobody believes anymore that infants are insensate blobs. It seems both mad and evil to deny experience and feeling to a laughing, gurgling creature.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Against Empathy, Paul Bloom, 2016
The quote argues that denying infants' capacity for feeling is both irrational and morally wrong, emphasizing that even very young beings experience emotions.
In simple terms: Infants feel emotions, so ignoring that is cruel.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and respect infant emotional life.
Themes
ethics
development
empathy
morality
Mood
compassionate
concerned
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- parenting
- early education
- healthcare policy
- animal welfare
Key Concepts
sentience
moral psychology
child development
Questions to Reflect On
- How does acknowledging infant feeling change caregiving?
- What moral duties arise from this recognition?
A Different Perspective
Some argue infants lack complex consciousness, making emotional attribution uncertain.
![“Our best hope for the future [...] lies in an appreciation of the fact that, even if we don’t empathize with distant strangers, their lives have the same value as the lives of those we love.” quote by Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/630/paul-bloom-3720_appreciation_our-best-hope-for-the-future-lies-in-an_177200.jpg)
