Paul Bloom
Professor, Department of Psychology
Paul Bloom is a Professor in the Department of Psychology. Prior to his arrival at U of T, he taught at the University of Arizona and Yale University, where he continues to hold the position of Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor Emeritus of Psychology. He completed his undergraduate education in Psychology at McGill University, then earned a PhD in Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Bloom’s research focuses on how children and adults make sense of the world, with an emphasis on pleasure, morality, religion, fiction, and art. He is co-editor of the journal Behavioral and Brain Sciences and currently writes for popular outlets such as the New York Times and the New Yorker, as well as several scientific publications. He has written six books, including, most recently, The Sweet Spot: The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning, which will be published in November 2021. He has won numerous awards for his research and teaching.