The concept of value lexicality explores whether some forms of suffering are so severe that no amount of less extreme suffering could morally outweigh them. This idea challenges traditional approaches to moral decision-making, particularly in how we prioritize different types of suffering when allocating limited resources. The philosophical investigation could provide valuable insights for ethicists, policymakers, and organizations focused on reducing suffering.

The Core Philosophical Problem

The project centers on an underexplored question: are there certain unbearable experiences that should be treated as morally distinct from other forms of suffering? This challenges the common assumption that all suffering can be compared on a single scale. The investigation would examine psychological evidence about human tolerance thresholds and explore whether these empirical observations could form the basis for moral distinctions in how we weigh suffering.

Potential Applications and Stakeholders

While fundamentally a philosophical inquiry, the exploration of value lexicality could have practical implications for:

• Healthcare rationing decisions where extreme pain conditions compete with more common ailments
• Effective altruism organizations prioritizing between different causes
• Legal systems determining appropriate responses to severe human rights violations

The investigation might particularly interest academic philosophers and psychologists studying pain perception, as well as practitioners who must make difficult comparisons between qualitatively different types of suffering.

Research Approach

One way to structure this investigation would involve three phases: First, analyzing existing philosophical critiques of lexicality and relevant psychological research on suffering thresholds. Second, developing conceptual frameworks that connect empirical findings about human experiences of unbearable suffering to moral theory. Third, exploring practical applications where such distinctions might be most relevant, potentially through case studies in medicine or policy.

For those looking to explore these ideas with less initial commitment, a focused position paper examining psychological evidence for 'bearability thresholds' might serve as a minimal starting point that could spark further inquiry.