So OK this is a question that for various personal reasons has been weighing on my mind recently. What in the view of other forum members here is the point of human suffering?
I don't want any discussion about God, or religion, or anything like that - and I know that suffering isn't unique to humanity. But there is one aspect of human suffering that sets us apart from the animals - and that is our capacity to experience emotional suffering. (Again some might dispute this, but let's just assume for now that this is true too).
So the question is, in the absence of any God (and let's just say for the sake of this discussion that this is simply a statement of fact - since this will help steer the topic) why do we suffer?
Of course by suffer I mean when we loose someone through bereavement, or when a relationship ends, or when a friend betrays us, or when we hear of the suffering of others, or perhaps when we are very low or depressed (at which point) suffering can seem to become unbearable), or for any one of a million other reasons that we may suffer in this way.
Some doctors and psychologists tend to treat suffering as a disorder - but I'm not sure I agree with this. I mean what would the world be like if there was no suffering in it? Would we be able to appreciate the suffering of others? Would we be able to experience joy? Would we still be able to feel compassion? Would love still have the same kind of meaning that it may have now?
In short is a world without suffering a genuinely desirable thing for us to have?
I just can't help feeling that our capacity to suffer is what makes us human - and that without this we would be no better off than many animals. Also this capacity to suffer in this way appears to have a deeper sense of meaning. It is to say the least 'inefficient' from an evolutionary perspective to suffer in this way - so why should this capacity even exist within us, if it isn't there 'for something.'
Again, it seems that this argument might lend itself to a religious debate - but I do very much want to avoid this. There must be other reasons why people feel that suffering is relevant and/or important, both to us as a species and as individuals?
If anyone has any specific literary or philosophical quotes on this topic, please feel free to share these too. (Indeed these would be very much appreciated).