Is there an opposite of pain? DON'T think its pleasure?

Question

Everyone can agree on something painful. SMASHING YOUR HAND WITH A HAMMER. but sometimes things that bring pleasure also come with a heaping helping of guilt so I would argue that pleasure is subjective, and NOT a true opposite of pain

Answer 1

Pain (noun) means suffering, the opposite of suffering would be the absence of pain, so would the antonym for pain be
relief?

Answer 2

Pain and pleasure are too incongruous to be the opposite of each other so you know it was merely coined by a man and it somehow "stuck". Good thinking. It is a fallacious phrase.

I think that it is more realistic to say "pain and wellness"when you are thinking of pain in relation to your own state of health, such as in feeling body aches and pains. .
As for pleasure, It should be paired with indifference, or "pleasure and annoyance". Two mild emotions on the opposite sides of not feeling anything at all.

Answer 3

Pain

Answer 4

Pleasure and pain are kind of like your car's gas pedal and brakes. They aren't exactly the opposite of each other, but pretty close. However, just because one makes the car go faster, and the other slows it down, doesn't mean you can't hit both at the same time.

The classical example is enjoying the sexual pleasure of your friends partner, while experiencing emotional pain of betraying your friend.

Emotions aside, it's not even particularly hard to pursue physical pleasure to the point of physical pain.

Answer 5

Both pleasure and pain are subjective. I think that most of us would agree that smashing one's hand with a hammer is painful, but suppose there was extensive neurological damage in that area of the body and there was no sensation. Furthermore, one could argue that in such a situation there is an automatic release of endorphines and other chemicals to help one cope with the pain of such an impact, as well as different levels of pain tolerance.

I find your argument flawed in that you assume that pain is generalizably objective. Speaking from personal experience, I began having migrane headaches from a young age. My parents not wanting me to go on strong prescription pain killers at a young age, I learned to focus the pain away in an optimal environment. Indeed, I could acknowledge the pain but on a level I desensitized myself to it. In the same sense, I am sure that there are a number of seemingly universal pleasureable activities, such as sexual activity, that would appear pleasureable, but certainly there are several situations in which it would not be based on the individual.

So in this case, I believe that two continuums should be considered. First, the continuum of sensation, ranging from no sensation to overwhelming sensation. Second, the continuum of pleasureable sensation to that of unpleasureable sensation. Keeping in mind the human experience, we are incapable of experiencing the extremes of any continuum, and as such there is likely to always be, in some way, pleasureable aspects to seemingly painful experiences and painful aspects to seeming pleasureable experiences (as noted in the initial question). Much of this is dependenant on the objectivity of the event and the subjective experience of the individual in the midst of the event in question.

Answer 6

For me the opposite of pain is comfort, assurance, and contentment. When the nerve in my shoulder and neck is irritated, I feel great pain. When it ceases, I am humbled and grateful, content to feel comfortable. Emotional pain is similar.

Answer 7

Back in my younger days, after a good workout, with all of my muscles feeling as if they were on fire, I would always feel good knowing that I'd given it my very best. Is that masochism? Or just feeling good that you've done your best, even if it incurred a lot of pain at the time?

Doug

Answer 8

Perhaps the true opposit of pain is numbness. Pain is an xtreme level of stimulation. Maybe the opposite would be the total absence of stimulation. Numbness.

Answer 9

Pain can also give pleasure to you, so I agree with you.

Answer 10

the oxford dictionary classifies the pleasure as the oppisiteof pain