If you could get rid of all suffering, would you do it?

Question

Eventually mankind will find ways in which to eliminate suffering. Whether it be by pharmacologic methods or genetic engineering, we will find ways in which we can achieve permanent states of bliss and happiness. Is this a good thing or not? I think it is. I know many of you say that only by suffering can you learn anything valuable, but it is major depression or PTSD valuable to us? What do you think?

"No I don't think that I am qualified to over rule God and decide that He made mistakes and fix them for him." I guess that means that those arrogant doctors who cure cancer aren't qualified to fix God's "mistakes"

Answer 1

Sadly simplicity is not always the best teacher.

No I don't think that I am qualified to over rule God and decide that He made mistakes and fix them for him.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 2

It is very likely that in the distant future we will be able to achieve a feat similar to that which you describe in your question by altering the state of neurons in our bodies. If this could be perfected, it would be a very good thing. However, under practical conditions we could not remain our entire lives in this bliss because of maintenance and of morals. The former because we would need people to prevent problems in this technology- and who would want to do such a thing when they could be artificially happy. Morals would also prevent us from excessive use of this technology because we value life, and this could certainly not help us live, for we would starve ourselves to use this is the technology were perfect. Also, I am sure this artificial happiness goes against many religions.

As a matter of fact, this technology has already been used on mice. Scientists have ran electric wires from a lever to a certain nerve of a mouse which causes the mouse an artificial pleasure. Once the mouse stumbles upon the lever and realize its function, they do not leave it even to eat, and thus they have died of a lack of food.

Other problems which could arise include technical difficulties such as stimulating the wrong feelings, which could be disastrous. This has occurred in the mice studies.

For more information about this mouse study, listen to lecture 2 at the following website. http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Brain-and-Cognitive-Sciences/9-00Fall-2004/LectureNotes/index.htm

Answer 3

I don't think that mankind will ever find a way to eliminate all suffering. I think that it would be great if we no longer had hunger, war, or hatred but, i can not see how any of it would be ended with medicine or genetic engineering. I wouldn't want to end all suffering, it makes us human but, i think that it is sad that people go hungry and without medicine and that when war is waged innocent people die. Those are the instances of suffering that need to be changed.

Answer 4

Dear AJ: Unfortunately, it is not in man's psychological makeup to be eternally blissful. Except, of course, if we do away with teenagers, then we'll be getting somewhere.

I think the only way we'll do away with suffering among mankind is the same way to have eternal peace - eliminate all mankind. That will accomplish your goal, won't it? But it's nice to know that we still have some optimists in the world.

Answer 5

even if i had the power, i wouldn't...suffering (birth and death and all the physical/emotional/'spiritual' pain between the two) is integral to life

suffering -- for one -- allows an appreciation of bliss, pleasure, and peace

and, simplistic as it may seem, without the broad gray between these two poles, we -- individuals -- can't make choices

and without choice, we aren't human...we become mere automatons

without pain and suffering one becomes slug-like: not moving forward, not changing, not learning

the utopia you're pining for, that you believe to be a worthy goal for the world, is -- to me -- a death sentence --h.quirk