Exploring the Relationship Between Pain and Perception

It is the goal of this paper to contribute to the conceptual understanding of pain. We specifically explore the relationship between pain and perception, surveying three philosophical works that define pain somehow or other in terms of perception. We critique this work and also explore some of its empirical implications. We briefly consider for each of these accounts how pain can be learned (or unlearned), what role distraction plays in pain processing, and the kinds of chronic pain research proponents of the account would favor. We consider whether the various accounts of pain offer significant empirical distinctions and conclude with a request for assistance from cognitive psychologists.