The Essence of Imperfection: How Health Shapes Humanity

Many of us strive for the ideal—perfect health as a symbol of perfection. However, the author examines this concept from a different perspective, arguing that absolute health is a conditional and even undesirable state. If we imagine a person who knows no diseases or weaknesses, he would have lost that unique element that makes him truly human. It is precisely through the struggle with ailments, through overcoming our limitations and mistakes, that opportunities for mental activity, choice, and growth emerge.

This view transforms health from an intangible dream into a practical component of human life, where imperfections stimulate inner growth and creative self-expression. Recognizing that the absence of diseases would deprive a person of depth and wisdom, the author emphasizes the need for balance between physical well-being and life's challenges. Ultimately, this perspective reminds us that our essence is defined not only by the absence of illness but also by our ability to cope with them, allowing us to remain vital not only in body but also in spirit.

Why, according to the author, did Bock not bestow health upon people?

According to the author, absolute (complete) health is a conditional and even undesirable concept because if a person were absolutely healthy, he would have lost what distinguishes him from a mere animal. Absolute health would be incompatible with the human essence, as "an absolutely healthy person would no longer be human, but rather an unthinking animal." In other words, the presence of illnesses and weaknesses is an integral part of human existence that enables thinking, growth, and choice.

Supporting citation(s):
"If health were not an abstract category—something that, strictly speaking, does not exist—then one might say that an absolutely healthy person would no longer be a human, but an unreasonable animal." (source: 1076_5378.txt)