Métamorphoses de la douleur

The concept of “dolorism” gathers various ideas, which give a weak or strong value to pain and which justify opposed behaviors, passive or reactive. The comparisons between Christian authors, like Blaise Pascal or Simone Weil, and ancient authors, like Cicéron or modern authors like Nietzsche highlight these oppositions. The modern rejection of any form of “dolorism” is true “algophobia”; it appears in the medicalisation of pain. Medicine improve means against pain, but cannot eliminate confrontation with the body sufferings; medicine cannot replace the resources of sick people to support or, better, to overcome the pain.