The Concept of Suffering in Bioethics and Philosophy of Religion

Suffering is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that transcends biological pain and enters the realms of moral, existential, and spiritual significance. This article examines the concept of suffering through an interdisciplinary lens, drawing from the fields of bioethics and the philosophy of religion. It argues that suffering must be understood not merely as a clinical symptom to be alleviated but as an ethical and narrative experience that demands careful moral attention. Employing a hermeneutic-philological methodology, this study synthesizes classical texts, contemporary scholarship, and ethical theory to explore how suffering is constructed, represented, and responded to within clinical and theological contexts. The findings reveal that suffering is often silenced or mischaracterized in biomedical discourse, while religious traditions offer diverse, though sometimes problematic, frameworks for meaning-making. Ultimately, the paper advocates for a renewed ethical vocabulary that honors the depth of suffering without instrumentalizing it, and calls for compassionate practices grounded in presence, solidarity, and humility.