Ethics

Is inflicting pain immoral in itself, or only insofar as it accompanies or incurs bodily or psychological harm?

Comments

Neither, I would think.

Inflicting pain is not immoral in itself, because it is sometimes necessary for the patient's health and authorized by the patient for this reason. Dentists inflicting pain are typically not acting wrongly.

Even when pain is not associated with simultaneous or subsequent bodily or psychological harm, it may nonetheless be wrong to inflict such pain. For example, some people suffer no physical or psychological damage from mild torture (weak electric shocks administered for brief periods, say). It is nonetheless wrong so to torture such people just for fun.

Read another response by Thomas Pogge

Read another response about Ethics