The Language of Pain

A Philosophical Study of BDSM

Bibliographic Data

ID3333813
AuthorsTimo Airaksinen (0000-0001-8850-418X, University of Helsinki, corresponding author)
Year2018
Volume8
Issue2
Pages215824401877173
Publication date2018-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSAGE Open (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2158-2440 • E-ISSN: 2158-2440
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/2158244018771730
OpenAlexW2801822611
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited15

This philosophical article attempts to promote the recognition of the social world of BDSM in philosophical and tropological perspective. BDSM, and especially sadomasochism, is difficult to understand in its own, characteristic motivational perspective because such negative experiences as, say, pain and humiliation, indicate aversion rather than attraction. To cause pain to others is typically condemned. To cosset pain and suffering is said to be perverse. My main point is we that can better understand BDSM via its typical language and rhetoric, especially by paying attention to the key role of linguistic metonymy when we discuss the riddles of pain and pleasure. Also, this article discusses the various ways of talking about and potentially condemning BDSM by calling it a perversion or a paraphilic disorder. I conclude that, within some reasonable limits, BDSM is not vulnerable to the standard forms of criticism

Criticism · Epistemology · Human sexuality · Humiliation · Linguistics · Objectification · Pain and pleasure · Perversion · Pleasure · Psychoanalysis · Psychotherapist · Rhetoric · Sadomasochism · Shame · Sociology · Gambling Behavior and Treatments · Gender Studies · Gothic Literature and Media Analysis · Law · Philosophy · Psychology · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology · Social Psychology