If there is one thing we really don't like, then it is pain. Not only we but any organism with a central nervous system. So, fighting pain in yourself and others can give meaning to your life.
The quest to eliminate pain is a practice that goes back to prehistoric times. Take the ice mummy Ötzi, who was found in the Italian Alps in 1991.
This person from around 3300 B.C. carried herbs with him that were used as painkillers for toothache. Ötzi also had tattoos in typical places that were assumed to be intended to ease the pain.
The oldest written sources on pain relief are found much later in Egypt: the Kahun papyrus from around 1800 B.C. contains hundreds of recipes with a painkilling purpose.
The combinations of ingredients are sometimes extremely fascinating, such as crocodile dung mixed with herbs and honey.
The first pharmacological manual appears later: "De materia medica" (On Medical Matters) by Dioscurides (ca. 40-90 AD). This book has been used as a standard reference for 1500 years for pain relief remedies such as opium, belladonna, and mandrake root, which we know work.
Medical textbooks with pain relief treatments are also abundant in ancient China. The work that put Chinese palliative medicine on the map is the Huangdi neijing (The Emperor's Inner Canon) from the 2nd century B.C. It deals with the treatment and relief of pain using acupuncture, herbs.
You may conclude that if you look for a meaning of life, become a physician and spend your life on helping others by relieving their pain and suffering.
However not all treatments for pain were medical in nature. Man quickly discovered that medicines was of some help indeed, but it was impossible to bannish all pain forever.
This means, that man approached the issue too with philosophical and religious remedies. The basic question is: if pain can't be bannished, then when in pain, how to deal with it to keep on living a meaningful life?
Maybe the oldest answer dates back to the 6th to 4th century BCE, which we now know as Buddhism. The Buddhist answer looks quite simple.
The Buddha based his entire teaching on the fact of human suffering and the ultimately dissatisfying character of human life. Existence is painful.
The conditions that make an individual are precisely those that also give rise to dissatisfaction and suffering. Individuality implies limitation. Limitation gives rise to desire; and, inevitably, desire causes suffering, since what is desired is transitory.
According to Buddhism, we can reduce suffering—both mental and physical—through meditation. This involves being aware of the sensations in the body,
including painful sensations, without judging them or trying to change them. By focusing on the pain in this way, we can deal with it in a more accepting way, which also reduces the pain itself.
Christianity has its own answer to the question. Christians believe that God sometimes allows suffering to help people grow and strengthen their faith.
Finding meaning in pain can help people accept it and cope better with it. That is the more philosophical or religious answer to the problem.
But I'd rather just go to the dentist when I have a terrible toothache and enjoy his meaning-of-life ideas.
Thank you for your attention again.....
Main Sources:
MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition
TABLE OF CONTENT -----------------------------------------------------------------
1 - 100 Philosophers 9 May 2009 Start of
2 - 25+ Women Philosophers 10 May 2009 this blog
3 - 25 Adventures in Thinking 10 May 2009
4 - Modern Theories of Ethics 29 Oct 2009
5 - The Ideal State 24 Febr 2010 / 234
6 - The Mystery of the Brain 3 Sept 2010 / 266
7 - The Utopia of the Free Market 16 Febr 2012 / 383
8. - The Aftermath of Neo-liberalism 5 Sept 2012 / 413
9. - The Art Not to Be an Egoist 6 Nov 2012 / 426
10 - Non-Western Philosophy 29 May 2013 / 477
11 - Why Science is Right 2 Sept 2014 / 534
12 - A Philosopher looks at Atheism 1 Jan 2015 / 557
13 - EVIL, a philosophical investigation 17 Apr 2015 / 580
14 - Existentialism and Free Will 2 Sept 2015 / 586
15 - Spinoza 2 Sept 2016 / 615
16 - The Meaning of Life 13 Febr 2017 / 637
17 - In Search of my Self 6 Sept 2017 / 670
18 - The 20th Century Revisited 3 Apr 2018 / 706
19 - The Pessimist 11 Jan 2020 / 819
20 - The Optimist 9 Febr 2020 / 824
21 - Awakening from a Neoliberal Dream 8 Oct 2020 / 872
22 - A World Full of Patterns 1 Apr 2021 / 912
23 - The Concept of Freedom 8 Jan 2022 / 965
24 - Materialism 7 Sept 2022 / 1011
25 - Historical Materialism 5 Oct 2023 / 1088
26 - The Bonobo and the Atheist 9 Jan 2024 / 1102
27 - Artificial Intelligence 9 Feb 2024 / 1108
28 - Why Am I Here 6 Sept 2024 / 1139
[13:16] Max Chatnoir: Thank you, Herman.
[13:17] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman
[13:17] herman Bergson: And then I haven't mentioned psychologiical pain.....
[13:18] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): that is really hard
[13:18] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aah
[13:18] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): according to those with issues
[13:18] herman Bergson: or our awareness today that a lot of animals also experience pain like we do, which means something of course
[13:19] herman Bergson: The issue of psychological pain relates too ur previous lecture about the difference between emotions and feelings....
[13:19] Max Chatnoir: I wonder if tattoos are a kind of acupuncture.
[13:20] herman Bergson: The difficulty with psychological pains like depression or suicidal ideas is that the mind has kicked in....
[13:20] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i don't think so it is very painful according to those who get them
[13:20] Max Chatnoir: Do you go on feeling their presence in some way?
[13:20] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): have had acupuncture and it is soothing
[13:20] herman Bergson: I call it auto-mutilation :-)
[[13:21] herman Bergson: tattoos
[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): body jewelry
[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): haha
[13:22] herman Bergson: all long as you like the tattoo
[13:22] herman Bergson: body jewelry...what a horrible term :-)
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i have never tried acu but love massage/body rubs and closeness in general
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): always been a cuddler also
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its nice
[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): massage eases pain too
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): could need that now also, feel the chilliness of winter crep on here
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): true indeed
[13:23] herman Bergson: that is why we have physiotherapy....it works
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:23] herman Bergson: We have special pain clinics in the Netherlands...
[13:24] herman Bergson: They are specialized in dealing with extreme pains
[13:24] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok
[13:25] herman Bergson: Fortunately I never experienced extreme pain...so I don't know how it influences your ideas about the meaning of life...
[13:25] Max Chatnoir: I read that Otzi's tattoos may have been acupressure markers.
[13:25] herman Bergson: But just think of terminally ill people....
[13:26] Max Chatnoir: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-otzi-icemans-tattoos-reveal-about-copper-age-medical-practices-180970244/
[13:26] herman Bergson: Interesting!
[13:26] Max Chatnoir: I wondered when you said they were medically related.
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aah
[13:27] herman Bergson: That is what some scientists believe.
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): Interesting
[13:27] herman Bergson: and then I believe such scientists
[13:28] herman Bergson: and then I make you believe to believe me :-))
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): haha
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): have to run off
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): see you next week
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cu Gemma
[13:28] herman Bergson: There she goes
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ohoh someone caught the runs
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and happy tnanksgiving btw
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and turkey munching
[13:29] Max Chatnoir: Oops, there she goes!
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): speaking of, do i have some yummy stuff for later, but that I'll check after this
[13:30] herman Bergson: I hope I don't leave you here with some painful thoughts :-)
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hehe indeed
[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i feel ok still
[13:31] Lecturehall: 2024-11-26 [23:31] Stranger Nightfire
[13:31] herman Bergson: By the way...the trick of meditation can work to relieve pain....
[13:31] herman Bergson: the quintessence is to distract the mind from the pain.....
[13:31] herman Bergson: I heared of some tests....
[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:32] herman Bergson: They had people in pain play TETRIS....
[13:32] herman Bergson: and by concentrating on the game they indeed "forgot"their pain
[13:32] bergfrau Apfelbaum: i am not in pain either :-) thank you Herman
[13:33] herman Bergson: There is some power in the mind to deal with extreme pain...
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): meditation works for me too, i have tried now an then, its nice
[13:34] Stranger Nightfire: Tetris a good one to focus your mind
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that works yes
[13:35] herman Bergson: Yes it needs concentration
[13:36] herman Bergson: I once played it in 3D using a VR-device....
[13:36] Max Chatnoir: How was that?
[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i still remember a nice tetris clone i had for GameGear/Master System called Collumns where instead of bricks u had jewels, i could select 3 different styles of these + different music at start
[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): really cozy version
[13:37] herman Bergson: Difficult, Max :-)
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): + have some smulator for it somewhere i think
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): emulator
[13:37] Max Chatnoir: I have never played Tetris!
[13:37] herman Bergson: But the VR experience is really cool
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCZ_2d_oF8Y
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): this game i had
[13:38] Max Chatnoir: Thanks!
[13:38] herman Bergson: and kind of silly....you move your hands and grab blocks, but only before your eyes
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): + lot of different sonic games = Hedgehogs!
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Blue hedgehogs even
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and lightning fast
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): faster then yours Herman i believe
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hehe
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that was my childhood
[13:41] herman Bergson: Well...far enough away of our current subject , so a good moment to thank you all again :-)
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): An interesting fact is that there is a state of Sonic called Super Sonic directly based on the super saiyan staged in Dragonball = my yellow hair
[13:41] Max Chatnoir: Probably anything that engages your brain might distract from pain.
[13:41] herman Bergson: See you on Thursday again....
[13:41] herman Bergson: Class dismissed...
[13:41] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman
[13:41] bergfrau Apfelbaum: danke Herman & class
[13:41] bergfrau Apfelbaum: yay
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