Bloom and Wallace both make assertions about human behavior which involve the use of empathy, but while Bloom considers empathy to be overrated because of it’s biased and illogical nature, Wallace describes empathy as the defining factor in our day-to-day relationships. Bloom makes it clear that he believes empathy to be a human weakness that suffocates the true driving forces of change, but my beliefs about empathy side closer to Wallace’s idea of empathy as a way of choosing to think about the world. Bloom describes empathy as “a spotlight directing attention and aid to where it’s needed” (1). Bloom uses the imagery of a spotlight to suggest that empathy is powerful but narrow. Because of this, empathy is flawed. It only points focus towards those who are similar to us, those who we relate to on a personal level, those who we believe deserve help, and those whose situation is most immediately visible. I don’t believe that Bloom is completely incorrect in his assertion that empathy is a poor driver for widespread change, but I do think that empathy, when utilized in the way I believe Wallace is proposing, creates an incentive for change that bypasses Bloom’s issues. Wallace never uses the word empathy directly, but through his descriptions of human interactions and choice of thought, he conveys very clearly a higher standard of internal compassion that he believes is worth striving for. Wallace summarizes this when discussing the freedom of being able to choose how to think about life: “The really important kind of freedom involves attention and awareness and discipline, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them over and over in myriad petty, unsexy ways every day” (1). Wallace’s view differs from Bloom’s because while Bloom focuses on empathy as a human emotion which distracts from those who need help the most, Wallace suggests that empathy is about choosing to consider other’s situations above one’s own. Bloom insists that empathy detracts from real change because in order to determine the best outcome for the most individuals, one must use logic over empathy. However, if we apply Wallace’s mindset, then empathy is merely the building blocks to change. Without the foundational ability to consider other people over yourself, no one would even get to the point of applying logic to help solve other people’s issues because one’s own issues are considered paramount. If no one cares in the first place, Bloom’s suggestions of empathy alternatives are useless.