[The phenomenology of health and the consequences for the physician].

An investigation on the basis of the phenomenology of religions brought to mind that the origin of occidental meaning of existence is contained in the word "life is: to overcome death". Christ as the originator lived it. Thus health means to overcome being ill. The structure of the phenomenon of being well "in illo tempore" is analysed. The outstanding feature of this phenomenon is the ability for "transcendation". In the experience of a physician the ability to transcend is seen as unfolding of the individual's predispositional possibilities, in the medium of communication. Going through examples of endogenous psychoses, psychosomatic illnesses, and physical illness it is pointed out, that being ill cannot be early differentiated in either being physically or mentally ill. Their intangledness becomes apparent in Nietzsche's, Goethe's and Novalis' experiences. So normality and health are not identical; and the aim of therapy is not solely defence against being ill. Being ill may even become a cause for the development of a more highly organized health. So the question of what is being health cannot be answered by a clear definition but in making visible its complexity.