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CASE: o Does the Super Stoic still feel pain, according to the Functionalist? Why/why not?

User BondAddict
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Final answer:

According to Functionalism, a 'Super Stoic' would still experience the sensation of pain but would respond to it without emotional disturbance, aligning with the Stoic principle of rational detachment from emotions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The query revolves around the feeling of pain and its interpretation by Functionalists in the context of Stoic philosophy. When discussing whether a 'Super Stoic' can still experience pain, according to the view of Functionalists, a key point emerges. Functionalists consider mental states in terms of their function in the cognitive system, rather than their internal qualitative experience. This suggests that while a 'Super Stoic' might still feel pain, the crucial distinction lies in their response to it, which would be characterized by a lack of emotional disturbance.

The ancient Stoics, as a school of philosophy, advocated for accepting life's trials and tribulations rationally, without succumbing to emotion. This concept points to a Stoic experiencing pain but remaining emotionally detached. In this sense, the 'Super Stoic' would recognize the sensation of pain but would not be overwhelmed by it, living in accordance with nature and rational thought.

Considering Glaucon's account of the prisoner's painful adjustment to the light outside the cave, it's evident that the experience of pain can be associated with growth and realization. Therefore, the 'Super Stoic' might understand pain as a necessary element of life, one that should be met with rationality and composure as opposed to emotional suffering.

User Plindberg
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