In a consumer society there are inevitably two kinds of slaves: the prisoners of addiction and the prisoners of envy.
Ivan IllichRead
Modern medicine is a negation of health. It isn't organised to serve human health, but only itself, as an institution. It makes more people sick than it heals.
Interpretation
This quote critiques modern medicine for prioritizing its own institutional interests over actual patient health.
Ivan Illich's quote highlights a critical view of modern medicine, suggesting that it has become an institution that prioritizes its own operational needs rather than genuinely promoting the health of individuals. He argues that the system, as it stands, may cause more harm than good, reflecting a need to reevaluate the principles and practices of healthcare to ensure they truly benefit patients.
In practice
This quote could be used in a health seminar to encourage discussion about the shortcomings of modern healthcare.
In a consumer society there are inevitably two kinds of slaves: the prisoners of addiction and the prisoners of envy.
School is the advertising agency which makes you believe that you need the society as it is.
School prepares for the alienating institutionalization of life by teaching the need to be taught. Once this lesson is learned, people lose their incentive to grow in independence; they no longer find relatedness attractive, and close themselves off to the surprises which life offers when it is not predetermined by institutional definition.
The pupil is ... 'schooled' to confuse teaching with learning, grade advancement with education, a diploma with competence, and fluency with the ability to say something new.
The myth of unending consumption has taken the place of the belief in life everlasting.
Effective health care depends on self-care; this fact is currently heralded as if it were a discovery.
Our demand for meat, dairy and refined carbohydrates - the world consumes one billion cans or bottles of Coke a day - our demand for these things, not our need, our want - drives us to consume way more calories than are good for us.
Who would not want an illness that has among its symptoms elevated and expansive mood, inflated self-esteem, abundance of energy, less need for sleep, intensified sexuality, and- most germane to our argument here-"sharpened and unusually creative thinking" and "increased productivity"?
How do you build up your bank account? By putting something in it everyday.Your health account is no different. What I do today, I am wearing tomorrow. If I put inferior foods in my body today, I'm going to be inferior tomorrow, it's that simple.
I think history would say that medical research has, throughout many changes of parties, remained as one of the shining lights of bipartisan agreement, that people are concerned about health for themselves, for their families, for their constituents.
I feel about exercise the same way that I feel about a few other things: that there is nothing wrong with it if it is done in private by consenting adults.
What people need to know is that asthma isn't a minor 'wheeze-disease.' It kills over five thousand people in America every year, and I could've been one of them.
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