Le patient souffrant de douleurs chroniques : entre « principlism » et responsabilité Levinassienne

I propose that these problems arise from the unique and exceptional nature of pain, both as a biological and psychological phenomenon, but also as a philosophical phenomenon and suggest that pain disintegrates the human capacity for self-determination. In fact, when pain becomes chronic, it disrupts the individual's capacity for learned self care, transforming Self into a “heteronomic agent”, submissive not only to pain but also to outside actions. The individual submits passively to an “outside locus”, so that Self becomes frail and vulnerable to external influences, accepting more readily outside control.