3 ms·

> Two hundred years ago, powerful synthetic pain-killers and surgical anesthetics were unknown. But opium sure as hell wasn't! And it seems to check most of yo

by arsome 5y ago

> Two hundred years ago, powerful synthetic pain-killers and surgical anesthetics were unknown. But opium sure as hell wasn't! And it seems to check most of your suggested boxes too, however I don't think it makes for a good society, perhaps you should consider why, because it's pretty much what you're suggesting. Why enjoy social interaction? Why enjoy arts? Why learn things? You'd be perfectly happy with more magic hedonism pills. Unpleasantness, and yes, pain is as important a part of being as any other part.

deleted 5y ago
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kelnos 5y ago
> Unpleasantness, and yes, pain is as important a part of being as any other part. That's not really an argument; that's just "pain is an important part of being because pain has always been a part of our being". It's not hard to imagine a world where we can live without pain but still live meaningful lives. The one thing I'd worry about is losing pain where it's useful. If I touch something hot, I want to know immediately (through pain) so I can quickly pull my hand away. But perhaps there's a different mechanism that could replace that.
- coldtea 5y ago
  >It's not hard to imagine a world where we can live without pain but still live meaningful lives. Actually it's pretty hard to imagine it. Tons of people conditions without adversity dwindle and end up shooting heroin, killing themselves, or worse, living long lives as accountants.
  - HappySweeney 5y ago
    To expand on said difficulty: the older I get, the more I believe Agent Smith was right when he said that "Humans define their reality through suffering and misery". Also, homeostasis should dampen any long-term pleasure-inducing machinery (even if it comes from within).
GordonS 5y ago
> Unpleasantness, and yes, pain is as important a part of being as any other part. While I agree in principle, reality is a lot more nuanced. For example, there is a very real difference between spraining your ankle (pain is a signal to rest it), and chronic nerve pain (which only serves to make the sufferer miserable).

by arsome 5y ago

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

kelnos 5y ago

> Unpleasantness, and yes, pain is as important a part of being as any other part. That's not really an argument; that's just "pain is an important part of being because pain has always been a part of our being". It's not hard to imagine a world where we can live without pain but still live meaningful lives. The one thing I'd worry about is losing pain where it's useful. If I touch something hot, I want to know immediately (through pain) so I can quickly pull my hand away. But perhaps there's a different mechanism that could replace that.

coldtea 5y ago
>It's not hard to imagine a world where we can live without pain but still live meaningful lives. Actually it's pretty hard to imagine it. Tons of people conditions without adversity dwindle and end up shooting heroin, killing themselves, or worse, living long lives as accountants.
- HappySweeney 5y ago
  To expand on said difficulty: the older I get, the more I believe Agent Smith was right when he said that "Humans define their reality through suffering and misery". Also, homeostasis should dampen any long-term pleasure-inducing machinery (even if it comes from within).

GordonS 5y ago

> Unpleasantness, and yes, pain is as important a part of being as any other part. While I agree in principle, reality is a lot more nuanced. For example, there is a very real difference between spraining your ankle (pain is a signal to rest it), and chronic nerve pain (which only serves to make the sufferer miserable).