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duckznutz · 06-11-2004, 03:21 PM

Q1 Pain = bad?
there is often a fine line between pleasure and pain . . . in fact they often switch over (check the Wayside Forum for examples!).

It is all just electrical impulses reaching the brain. The perception of these impulses is rooted in evolution (as has been previously stated in this thread) eg. you withdraw your hand from a flame to prevent burning . . mother nature always assumes control when you are being an idiot . . . . try suffocating yourself . . . . mother nature sighs at your idiocy and steps in to render you unconscious so you fall down and release your grip.
Pain sensation is hard-wired . . .you can 'overcome' it and suffer it to a degree but by and large you dont get to choose whats sore and whats not. So the answer to Q1 is that pain is not 'bad' but an innate response to direct animals from hurting themselves. Pain works at the sub-conscious level . . .the concept of 'bad' is a relative one which inhabits the world of conscious thought. Nothing is 'bad' when you are asleep!

Q2 happiness = good?
First of all we have to distinguish between happiness and pleasure. Pleasure is flip-side of the coin that is pain in that it is hard-wired by mother nature. We all enjoy food and sex and scratching the itch. Although it doesnt take long to realise that there is no real pleasure as such . . . its all just relief from pain. We eat to remove hunger pangs, we scratch to relieve the irritation of an itch . . . we eat, sleep, exercise, defecate, bathe, sneeze and cough to relieve discomfort. Maybe sex is a 'positive' pleasure? But personally I think it is chemically biologically driven . . . .after every pleasure we always feel 'relaxed'. We have returned to the 'normal' state free of pain. Therefore pleasure is simply 'absence of pain'.

Happiness. An abstract concept entirely relative to your situation. In surveys, when questioned, 99% of people said they would be more than happy if they were paid 30% more . . . . . . . until six months later when you could ask them the same question again.

My personal theory is that happiness is not experienced . . . . . it is remembered. the holiday seems more fun looking at the photographs than it did at the time . . . .

06-11-2004, 03:21 PM	#33 (permalink)
duckznutz Addict Location: Brook Cottage, Lanark, Scotland	Q1 Pain = bad? there is often a fine line between pleasure and pain . . . in fact they often switch over (check the Wayside Forum for examples!). It is all just electrical impulses reaching the brain. The perception of these impulses is rooted in evolution (as has been previously stated in this thread) eg. you withdraw your hand from a flame to prevent burning . . mother nature always assumes control when you are being an idiot . . . . try suffocating yourself . . . . mother nature sighs at your idiocy and steps in to render you unconscious so you fall down and release your grip. Pain sensation is hard-wired . . .you can 'overcome' it and suffer it to a degree but by and large you dont get to choose whats sore and whats not. So the answer to Q1 is that pain is not 'bad' but an innate response to direct animals from hurting themselves. Pain works at the sub-conscious level . . .the concept of 'bad' is a relative one which inhabits the world of conscious thought. Nothing is 'bad' when you are asleep! Q2 happiness = good? First of all we have to distinguish between happiness and pleasure. Pleasure is flip-side of the coin that is pain in that it is hard-wired by mother nature. We all enjoy food and sex and scratching the itch. Although it doesnt take long to realise that there is no real pleasure as such . . . its all just relief from pain. We eat to remove hunger pangs, we scratch to relieve the irritation of an itch . . . we eat, sleep, exercise, defecate, bathe, sneeze and cough to relieve discomfort. Maybe sex is a 'positive' pleasure? But personally I think it is chemically biologically driven . . . .after every pleasure we always feel 'relaxed'. We have returned to the 'normal' state free of pain. Therefore pleasure is simply 'absence of pain'. Happiness. An abstract concept entirely relative to your situation. In surveys, when questioned, 99% of people said they would be more than happy if they were paid 30% more . . . . . . . until six months later when you could ask them the same question again. My personal theory is that happiness is not experienced . . . . . it is remembered. the holiday seems more fun looking at the photographs than it did at the time . . . . __________________ Where your talents and the needs of the world cross . . there lies your vocation.