Philosophy of Suffering: Metaphysics, Value, and Normativity [Hardcover]

Suffering is a central component of our lives. We suffer pain. We fall ill. We fail and are failed. Our loved ones die. It is a commonplace to think that suffering is, always and everywhere, bad. But might suffering also be good? If so, in what ways might suffering have positive, as well as negative, value?

This important volume examines these questions and is the first comprehensive examination of suffering from a philosophical perspective. An outstanding roster of international contributors explore the nature of suffering, pain, and valence, as well as the value of suffering and the relationships between suffering, morality, and rationality.

Philosophy of Suffering: Metaphysics, Value, and Normativity is essential reading for students and researchers in philosophy of mind, philosophy of psychology, cognitive and behavioral psychology as well as those in health and medicine researching conceptual issues regarding suffering and pain.

Introduction: David Bain, Michael Brady and Jennifer Corns  Part 1: The nature of suffering  1. The world according to suffering Antti Kauppinen  2. The disruption model of suffering Tom McClelland  3. Pain, suffering, and consciousness Sam Coleman  4. Suffering pains Olivier Massin  Part 2: Pain and valence  5. Valence, bodily (dis)pleasures, and emotions Fabrice Teroni  6. Pain and Mere Tastes: Toward an Attitudinal-Representational Theory of Valenced Perceptual Experiences Hilla Jacobson  7. Pain: an attitude with two heads Hagit Benbaji  Part 3: The value of suffering  &ll!