<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>I discuss everyday situations that bring about and contain suffering. We must take it seriously and distinguish between mental and physical pain and full-fledged suffering that entails dysphoria. I focus on morally relevant cases where I am innocent and contrast them with cases where my suffering is my fault. I discuss cases where we harm others and suffer from guilt and remorse. Our moral emotions cause extra suffering; sometimes, a person’s suffering is vicarious. Finally, I tackle the argument that suffering develops the sufferer’s virtues. I believe suffering is an intrinsic evil, and its good consequences are controversial and, at best, incidental. One may also argue that suffering ruins the victim’s character. This question may belong to empirical psychology.</p>
</abstract>

I discuss everyday situations that bring about and contain suffering. We must take it seriously and distinguish between mental and physical pain and full-fledged suffering that entails dysphoria. I focus on morally relevant cases where I am innocent and contrast them with cases where my suffering is my fault. I discuss cases where we harm others and suffer from guilt and remorse. Our moral emotions cause extra suffering; sometimes, a person’s suffering is vicarious. Finally, I tackle the argument that suffering develops the sufferer’s virtues. I believe suffering is an intrinsic evil, and its good consequences are controversial and, at best, incidental. One may also argue that suffering ruins the victim’s character. This question may belong to empirical psychology.

The curse of everyday suffering: An ethical study

Ethics & Bioethics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"The curse of everyday suffering: An ethical study"}

I discuss everyday situations that bring about and contain suffering. We must take it seriously and distinguish between mental and physical pain and...

The curse of everyday suffering: An ethical study

Published Online: Jun 06, 2024

Page range: 14 - 27

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ebce-2024-0010

Keywords
harm, guilt, virtue, remorse, self-presentation, ketman, vicarious suffering, typical mind fallacy, ideal mind fallacy

© 2024 Timo Airaksinen, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The curse of everyday suffering: An ethical study

Published Online: Jun 06, 2024

Page range: 14 - 27

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ebce-2024-0010

Keywordsharm, guilt, virtue, remorse, self-presentation, ketman, vicarious suffering, typical mind fallacy, ideal mind fallacy

© 2024 Timo Airaksinen, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
harm, guilt, virtue, remorse, self-presentation, ketman, vicarious suffering, typical mind fallacy, ideal mind fallacy