ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by explaining why the main theories of pain construe it as a bad motivational attitudes (BMA). It presents the general argument from conflicting reasons against the possibility of a BMA and render it less abstract by showing how it applies to the main theories of pain. The chapter discusses the suggestion that on the main theories of pain, pain is not a genuine BMA by first distinguishing two kinds of practical reasons and then by distinguishing a complex state from its component. The argument from conflicting reasons should be distinguished from the more familiar messenger objection. The idea of the BMA views is to explains the painfulness of pain via nothing but the intentional attitude that is directed at the bodily condition. However, eliminating the complex condition by eliminating the perception that the bodily condition obtains does not leave the desire intact.
