Health is a curious concept. Everybody understands the concept and we all have life experiences that give us first-hand impressions of what it means to be healthy or sick. Yet, health is notoriously difficult to define. No less difficult is to identify what is most important in determining people’s good or ill health. People’s biological inheritance is surely important, as it is their behaviour, but the social circumstances also play a major part, just like the environmental conditions and how satisfied they are with their lives!

Our focus is to rethink the relationship between health and society, with a special emphasis on sustainability and on the future. The future is open. The future is full not only of uncertainty, but of alternative possibilities. There are alternatives when we think about health in society. Let’s explore them!

Many questions are relevant for our endeavour:

• What is the value of health?
• What are the sensible limits in pursuing health?
• What kind of social relations help people to live a fulfilling life?
• What kind of support enable people to live with disabilities and diseases?
• How can we accept our mortality and cherish the thought that new generations take over?
• What are the most important things in people’s lives and how do they relate to good and bad health?

Different paths need to be considered:

• What are the best programmes for helping people to enjoy good health and avoid premature disability and morbidity?
• What are the best strategies for supporting people who are facing disease and disability?
• Which capabilities and knowledge people need to live well?