2 ms·
If the physiology of pain differs between the sexes, does the subjective experience of pain differ too? Even at the same reported severity? For all we know, if
by hirundo 8y ago
If the physiology of pain differs between the sexes, does the subjective experience of pain differ too? Even at the same reported severity? For all we know, if a female and a male both identify a color as blue, the two sexes may be experiencing different colors and attaching it the same label. Same goes for pain.
Imagine what a boon a technological fix for this could be. If we could record the quality and quantity of pain felt by one organism and play it back at high fidelity for another organism, it could be an effective torture device ... but also a way to promote empathy across sexes, races, and species.
But it's probably a fix that will remain a fantasy permanently, because if physiology underlies the difference, one organism would have to physiologically become something else in order to experience the same pain as an other. Probably we're stuck with the same old limited channel for communicating subjective experience: art.
- 3JPLW 8y agoThis is the premise of one of the short stories in Black Mirror's "Black Museum" episode (written by Penn Jillette, actually). A doctor uses it as a diagnostic device and then, as you might expect, the plot turns dark. It's very well done.