What is the function/purpose of pain?

[Thurlor]

I was under the impression that the function of pain was to let us know when we were harming our bodies or compromising its integrity.

If pain serves a valid purpose why aren't medical professionals more concerned about its occurrence? Blood tests cause me pain yet every doctor and lab technician acts as though I should just tolerate the pain. But they also tell me I shouldn't be ignoring the abdominal pain I feel on a semi-regular basis.

Either pain can be safely ignored or it can't. Maybe some pain is valid and some not, but how do I make such a determination?

 

[crippli]

Maybe because pain is somthing from the past. As per def. It will always be.

Blood tests will always destry your nerves where they are taken. At least repeatably.

A diabetic typically feel nothing in her/he fingers after some years with needles. Your choice. If one suffers. What can one do? I doubt doctors are in on hiding all that much that can not be deciphered.

 

[BurnedOut]

If you come to think about it objectively, pain is treated in a utilitarian fashion in the society.

If you get constant abdominal pains, that is probably a sign of something fucked up in your body. However, the prick of a needle serves more utility than experiencing the pain of the prick.

The purpose of pain is part psychological (Hobbesian), part biological. We don't like to unnecessarily subject ourselves to pain because no matter what kind of utility it might bring, it is, well, pain - causes a lot of displeasure. No one really likes to subject themselves to pain for any activity. The biological part is about self-preservation.