Why Does Pain Exist? Exploring the Science and Philosophy Behind It

2023-06-13 16:03:47

Claude Aendenboom

Today, 16:03

Why does pain exist? When I was 14, I learned in biology class that pain is usually caused by damaged or inflamed tissue. Tissue damage causes pain by activating pain-sensitive nerves, which send a signal to the brain.

And yes, every person fears some kind of pain, even if some friends at parties say they don’t. They too are sometimes terrified in sweat, just like other living creatures: single-celled animals, shrimps, seals, elephants whose trunk reacts frantically to a mouse and giraffes that quickly run away from the merciless predators with their long legs. And the seemingly fearless lions and tigers are sometimes very wary. But the trees and plants have to endure the flaming pain of the annual forest fires willy-nilly, because they cannot flee. Perhaps atoms and planets also experience pain in one way or another, every now and then. Like a nuclear fission or an exploding sun outside our Milky Way galaxy. Does the universe also experience pain?

Extreme situations lead to pain and thus avoidance behaviour. For example, most people cannot tolerate great hunger, do not want too much poverty or wealth and do not go outside when temperatures are too low. As earthlings, boys and girls, babies and the elderly should not be sore, after all, many pain demons pass in review in Life: growing pains, toothaches, menstrual pains, headaches, backaches and childbirth pains, you name it, one could write an entire pain encyclopedia with it. can fill.

Pain clinic for pain problems

And then there is the pain clinic. I found the following information about such a clinic on the internet: „Our pain therapy service treats patients with complex pain problems, which can be both acute and chronic conditions. Pain is a complex phenomenon and there will not always be a clear cause or injury that can be treated. A patient with serious pain complaints where the classic painkillers or physiotherapeutic treatments do not help, end up in the pain clinic on a referral from his (general) doctor.”

But the most painful thing, in my opinion, is being tortured for hours in a cell by a gang of criminals. Losing your child to kidnappers is anything but painless. And heartbreak goes through the marrow and bone.

But what are all those pains, wars and natural disasters good for? Only the master of the universe knows the answer. Some religious leaders who have a monopoly on wisdom claim: All you need is love and… pain.

Painful thought.

Respond to article:

All you need is pain?