Question

It seems that suffering is the more general term, if only because any harm that someone undergoes is suffered by them. Is there anything that we suffer that is not a harm? I didn't win the sprint, and that didn't harm me exactly, but I did suffer a loss. Is that right? If so, can we suffer because ofdeatheven if we are not harmed by it, as e.g. Epicureans I guess claim? I cannot readthis article I may be missing a nuance, but if harm is something externally imposed on someone that creates suffering, then the entire class of mental disorders qualifies as suffering without harm. Being depressed or bipolar involve great suffering, yet there is not harm to point to. We also suffer because of death insofar as it cause distress to the living or ends an otherwise happy life with more happiness expected in the future.

Is suffering a more general term than harm, given that any harm someone undergoes is considered a form of suffering?

a) Yes
b) No
c) It depends on the context
d) Not enough information to determine

Can we experience suffering without harm, as exemplified by not winning a sprint but still suffering a loss?

a) Yes
b) No
c) It depends on individual perspective
d) Not addressed in the passage

According to the passage, can we suffer because of death even if we are not directly harmed by it, as claimed by Epicureans?

a) Yes
b) No
c) The passage does not discuss Epicurean views on death
d) Insufficient information to decide

Based on the information provided, is the entire class of mental disorders an example of suffering without harm, as harm is externally imposed and mental disorders cause significant suffering?

a) Yes
b) No
c) The passage does not discuss mental disorders in this context
d) It depends on the definition of harm

According to the passage, do we suffer because of death only when it directly harms us, or can distress to the living or the interruption of a potentially happy life also be considered forms of suffering?

a) Only when directly harmed
b) Distress to the living and interruption of a happy life are forms of suffering
c) Both a and b
d) The passage does not provide a clear answer

Answer 1

Answer is Option B. Suffering is indeed broader than harm as it encapsulates a range of experiences including those without physical harm, such as disappointment or mental disorders.

Step-by-step explanation:

When exploring whether suffering is a broader term than harm, it's critical to consider the broad spectrum of human experiences and philosophical interpretations. Indeed, some situations, such as not winning a sprint, can invoke feelings of suffering as a result of loss without causing direct harm. Here, suffering arises from unmet expectations, but it doesn't necessarily involve harm in the physical or concrete sense.

Regarding mental disorders, these conditions can indeed inflict significant suffering without being attributed to external harm. They may not have an identifiable external cause, and in this sense, suffering does not always equate to external harm. As far as death is concerned, one can experience suffering related to it without direct harm to oneself, such as the emotional pain felt from the loss of a loved one or the interruption of a happy life.

Drawing from Socratic and Indian philosophies, there's also an intriguing link between ignorance and suffering or harm. For Socrates, harm is tied to a corrupted soul, while Indian philosophers connect suffering with attachment to impermanent things. Both suggest an inner transformation—Socratic moral integrity or Indian enlightenment—as remedies to such suffering or harm.