Abstract
This article examines the concept of physical pain and its relationship to philosophy within the context of ethics. The first question posing a problem is: should pain be added to or included in the list of the five senses? Whether sensation is present or not, pain does exist. Pain is part of the “immediate data of consciousness” dear to philosophers. Pain is at the heart of ontology, philosophy of the being and existential ontology, which places existence above essence. Pain is mine and teaches me that I exist. Pain conveys my existence more than thought. Why shouldn't we enrich Descartes's cogito? “I suffer, therefore I exist” rather than “I think, therefore I exist” or even “I am something which suffers” rather than “I am a thing which thinks” by Descartes. As pain is the witness of their existence, other beings resemble me. The use of physical pain to cause harm is the best transition towards the following question, that is, what is the relationship between pain and evil or harm? This is a question which is primordial and concerns philosophers, moralists and theologians. There is just pain which is harmful and is our enemy to be conquered. This would seem to be what philosophy has to teach those of us who are doctors fighting pain.
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