Question Is it possible to suffer without knowing it? Is pain the only bad thing that can happen to people?

Accepted:
February 9, 2006

Comments

It is clear that pain is not the only bad thing (harm) that can happen to people. For one thing, they can be killed. They can also be disabled or deprived of freedom or pleasure. Being deprived of pleasure is not the same as being caused pain. Obviously, one can be killed in one's sleep and so never know it happened or even that it was going to happen. Generally people know when they are disabled, but people can lose a leg without knowing it right away, if they have been in an accident. If it is a mental disability, that can happen to someone without his knowing, and it may be that he never knows. People can also be deprived of freedom or pleasure with knowing, although usually they will find out about it. With regard to suffering pain, it seems as if people can be in pain without being conscious of it, at least for some period of time.

If you mean by "to suffer," to "suffer a harm" and not merely to "suffer pain," then it is clearly possible to suffer without knowing it. And even if you mean by "to suffer" "to suffer pain or other unpleasant feelings," it seems that one can suffer for at least some period of time without being conscious of it.

Question Is it possible to suffer without knowing it? Is pain the only bad thing that can happen to people? Accepted:February 9, 2006

Question Is it possible to suffer without knowing it? Is pain the only bad thing that can happen to people?

Accepted:
February 9, 2006