Freethought & Rationalism Archive

winstonjen · 04-24-2003, 05:00 PM

This is a reply I received here - http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/sho...7928#post77928

Quote:

It is the part that is in pain that demands attention - That is what suffering is for... Without any suffering whatsoever - As in a medically possible condition where only pleasure and never pain is all that we could ever experience, which seems to be your ideal, we would not live long...

Is there a scientific basis for this (I doubt it), or is he trying to justify the prescence of suffering (my money is on this option)?

SimplyAtheistic · 04-24-2003, 05:51 PM

Pain, or more specifically nerves, are the greatest evolution the living organism has ever achieved. Pain keeps animals alive. Without pain, an animal wouldnt have a problem with walking directly into a fire, until it died that is. I am glad our species has nerves becaue I doubt I would have been born without them, my ancestors would have died long ago due to stupid mistakes. Now that we are in an era where we CAN identify possible dangers quite easily, it would be nice to develop something that could shut off the pain nerves, but that is a ways off.
Jake

winstonjen · 04-24-2003, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JakeJohnson
Now that we are in an era where we CAN identify possible dangers quite easily, it would be nice to develop something that could shut off the pain nerves, but that is a ways off.
Jake

Not really. Alcohol and painkillers can do quite a good job of this.

SimplyAtheistic · 04-24-2003, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by winstonjen
Not really. Alcohol and painkillers can do quite a good job of this.

Ya, but without affecting our judgement, and I mean complete shut off, not just retarding them a lot.
Jake

Paperstreet · 04-24-2003, 07:07 PM

Suffering isnt always physical... why would being clinically depressed help you live longer? If anything, it would make you NOT strive to live longer.

SimplyAtheistic · 04-24-2003, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paperstreet
Suffering isnt always physical... why would being clinically depressed help you live longer? If anything, it would make you NOT strive to live longer.

I was referring to the automatic nerves, depression of the mind has nothing to do with evolution, that is your own conciousness and your own mentality. I thought you would understand I meant physical only when I said "pain nerves".
Jake

Paperstreet · 04-25-2003, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JakeJohnson
I was referring to the automatic nerves, depression of the mind has nothing to do with evolution, that is your own conciousness and your own mentality. I thought you would understand I meant physical only when I said "pain nerves".
Jake

No shit... Anyways I was saying that the pain and suffering of depression doesnt help you live longer.

Treacle Worshipper · 04-26-2003, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JakeJohnson
I was referring to the automatic nerves, depression of the mind has nothing to do with evolution, that is your own conciousness and your own mentality. I thought you would understand I meant physical only when I said "pain nerves".
Jake

A lot of depression has a physical cause - neurochemical imbalance, for instance. It's not completely related to a person's mentality.
TW

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04-24-2003, 05:51 PM	#2
SimplyAtheistic Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Posts: 503	Pain, or more specifically nerves, are the greatest evolution the living organism has ever achieved. Pain keeps animals alive. Without pain, an animal wouldnt have a problem with walking directly into a fire, until it died that is. I am glad our species has nerves becaue I doubt I would have been born without them, my ancestors would have died long ago due to stupid mistakes. Now that we are in an era where we CAN identify possible dangers quite easily, it would be nice to develop something that could shut off the pain nerves, but that is a ways off. Jake

04-24-2003, 07:07 PM	#5
Paperstreet Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Maryland Posts: 175	Suffering isnt always physical... why would being clinically depressed help you live longer? If anything, it would make you NOT strive to live longer.

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