Upcoming Events
The Badness of Pain
The W. Maurice Young Centre for Applied Ethics is hosting a pre-read seminar by Prof. Gwen Bradford of Rice University department of philosophy on "The Badness of Pain."
When: Wednesday, March 14th from 3-5 pm
To obtain a copy of the paper and confirm your attendance please email David Silver. ( David.silver@ubc.ca)
Abstract: "Why is Pain Bad?"
Why is pain bad? The literature abounds with discussion of well-being, but there is so little about what is bad for us that you would think we’re in denial about it. Ideally, an account of pain’s badness will fulfill these desiderata: (1) capture the badness of pain broadly construed, i.e., both physical and psychological, (2) give a univocal explanation for human and animal pain, and (3) entail that only pain that is indeed intrinsically bad is bad. There are two central puzzles, namely pain that is enjoyed and pain that is not painful (as experienced by people with asymbolia for pain). A new view is proposed, reverse conditionalism, and it is argued that this view does best in fulfilling the desiderata and capturing enjoyable pain and asymbolia cases.
Pain in Mice and Man: Ironic Adventures in Translation
Save the date April 19 at 12:30 pm
Dr. Jeff Mogil, director of the The Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain at McGill University will give a Colloquia jointly sponsored by the BC Pain Research Network and the Department of Psychology titled Pain in Mice and Man: Ironic Adventures in Translation (his bio and abstract are attached). The seminar will be followed by a discussion session with Dr. Mogil about the McGill experience of forming a pain network. The event will conclude with a reception open to all BC Pain Research Network members. We will confirm the exact time and location of the sessions and reception closer to the date. |