The Problem of Unbearable Suffering Part 3: Unbearable Suffering in the Actual World

Part 3: Unbearable suffering in the actual world

The phenomenon of suicide demonstrates that some people experience unbearable suffering in the actual world. For someone to even consider ending their life, it must be the case that their suffering is nearing unbearable levels. For someone to follow through with choosing their own death is to very clearly state that being alive is not worth it for them.

It may not be the case that suicide is necessary for unbearable suffering. Hypothetically someone could experience unbearable suffering at the thought of both staying alive and at the thought of facing death. Someone could be truly stuck in their unbearable suffering. Someone could experience unbearable suffering right before they die or are killed.

You may wonder about suicide survivors who go on to say that attempting suicide was a mistake and that they failed to see at the time how much they had to live for. I have two points in response to this. First, that doesn’t rule out the existence of those who truly do experience unbearable suffering and end their lives because of it. Second, it could still be the case that the survivors were in fact experiencing unbearable suffering at the time of their attempt, and it wasn’t until later that their suffering subsided. Even if someone retrospectively realizes that their unbearable suffering wasn’t rational, it’s nevertheless the case that the unbearable suffering took place.

Putting all the pieces together, we can put the Argument from Unbearable Suffering in premise form:

1) Goods and evils depend ultimately on conscious awareness. (Premise 1)

2) If goods and evils depend ultimately on conscious awareness, then unbearable conscious suffering (‘unbearable suffering’) is the greatest possible evil for an individual. (Premise 2)

3) Therefore, unbearable suffering is the greatest possible evil for an individual. (From 1,2; modus ponens)

4) Every evil corresponds to an equivalent good of being saved from that evil. (Premise 3)

5) Therefore, being saved from unbearable suffering is the greatest possible good for the individual experiencing unbearable suffering. (From 3,4; categorical syllogism)

6) The phenomenon of suicide demonstrates that some people experience unbearable suffering. (Premise 4)

7) If some people experience unbearable suffering and the greatest possible good for the individual experiencing unbearable suffering is to be spared from unbearable suffering, then it is not the case that for all we know all evils produce greater goods that justify them. (Premise 5)

8) Therefore, it is not the case that for all we know all evils produce greater goods that justify them. (From 5,6,7; modus ponens)

9) If skeptical theism is true, then for all we know all evils produce greater goods that justify them. (Premise 6)

10) Therefore, skeptical theism is not true. (From 8,9; modus tollens)