Health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is an “uneven condition of the body that may lead to death or disability” and “the prevention of death and disability brought about by any cause”. Various definitions have been applied to health throughout the years. The word “disease” has always been part of the equation. Death and disability are also included in the definition. For the most part, the word “disease” was used to describe illness and injury and was used to motivate people towards prevention. Today, as more people are becoming aware of the dangers of various diseases, “disease” has become a less important component in defining health.

What is being lost when people define health in terms of illness and death? Life expectancy, which is a measure of living longer in today’s world, has declined steadily over the past half-century. In addition, while illness has become more common, leading to a greater loss of life expectancy, disability has become more common. Both illness and death are influenced by environmental factors. The environment has certainly worsened the problem of illness and death over time, resulting in an aging population and an increase in premature deaths. Therefore, health policy must take all these factors into account.

Good health is a state of well-being, which includes both physiological health as well as mental health. Healthy people tend to be physically healthy, while sick individuals tend to be mentally unhealthy. One can experience good health through a combination of healthy eating, regular exercise and a strong social network. At the other end of the spectrum, poor health leads to a poor quality of life, poverty, reduced opportunities and a reduction of potential relationships.

The goals of public health are to reduce the burden of illness and injury on society as a whole, improve health and wellness, promote health planning and provide protection against preventable illness and injury. As part of its strategy to achieve these goals, public health agencies help to create a balance between individual freedom and responsibility for health. Individual freedom refers to the ability to choose how, when and for how long to take part in the physical activities necessary for good health. Responsibility, on the other hand, refers to the accountability to others for making sure that one meets the recommended intake and exercise guidelines and for adhering to reasonable precautions to protect the consumer from harmful exposure to health hazards. The concept of wellbeing therefore combines the concepts of physical health and mental health, as both require the individual to be in control of his or her own body and mind.

While health promotion has been a human right since the declaration of the constitution, much debate continues to rage regarding the proper scope of this right. Some people argue that it is an antibiotivity law that trims away the individual’s freedom of action, making him or her more dependent on others. Others support the right to promote health by pointing out that people live longer, healthier lives than ever before because they are able to take proactive steps to stay healthy. Still, others believe that health promotion is a restraint for those who are too poor to afford healthcare and drugs – and therefore are left out in the cold in a world where prevention is better than cure. The bottom line is that a healthy society must also ensure that its citizens have the resources necessary to prevent themselves from becoming ill.

Health promotion is often thought to be synonymous with mental wellbeing, but this is not always the case. Mental health refers to a person’s ability to live his or her life to the fullest despite suffering from any kind of mental illness. On the other hand, public health defines health as a system of policies and practices that improves the health of the population as a whole and provides a higher quality of life for all of its citizens. The debate over the meaning of mental well-being versus public health is likely to rage on for some time.

Beauty in America and the West Versus Beauty in Eastern Cultures

Beauty is often defined as an aesthetic quality of certain objects which makes these objects appealing to perceive. These objects could be natural, cultural or human-made. Beauty, along with beauty and art, is possibly the most influential theme of aesthetics, among the various branches of contemporary philosophy. Philosophy of beauty normally deals with how beauty relates to man (or woman) in the world of senses.

European philosophy of beauty has evolved through the process of continental exchange. Beauty in Europe, for instance, has always been associated with the Classical period. However, in the last few decades this view has undergone a considerable change, with more philosophers in North America, South America and in Asia attaining a similar opinion regarding beauty ideals. Philosophy of beauty currently has several different currents, although all share some common ideas and presuppositions.

Philosophy of beauty usually divides beauty into three types: artistic, bodily or psychological. Artistic beauty refers to beauty considered artistic in form, including the aesthetic values of art; Greek beauty therefore includes such things as statues, paintings and other visual arts. Body size and physical fitness, height and attractiveness are considered important aesthetic qualities of Greek and ancient Greek beauty. Theological beauty on the other hand concerns itself with the evaluation of beauty in terms of religious beliefs, and therefore is often connected with Eastern religion.

For the philosophers of beauty, western ideals of beauty are considered beautiful because of their perfection, whereas eastern ideals of beauty are considered beautiful due to their ugliness, in contrast to the beauty of Greeks and Romans. The ancient Greeks and Romans are often criticized for their ‘barbie-esque’ approach to beauty. According to them, women should be beautiful not because they look perfect but because of their ability to carry off men. This approach towards beauty came from the idea that the ideal of a Greek woman was a physically fit body and mind.

Beauty then became a matter of personal pride and vanity. In ancient times, it was the’mark of the womanhood,’ and was associated with emotionalism and egotism. In fact, Greek and Roman women were famous for showing off their physical attractiveness in public, especially when contests for beauty were held. As such, physical attractiveness was not only seen as an attribute of physical strength, but also as a measure of one’s social status and sexual potential. Ancient societies were fascinated by beauty, and beauty in many cases, was not a matter of choice or personal preference – beauty was important for all societies, and beauty in particular was valued above all other values.

Through the lenses of European history and western culture, beauty has become something of an ideology in and of itself. Ideas about beauty have been used to justify hierarchy and power, gender roles, prejudice, and violence. Through these lenses, beauty has been used to justify our ideas about ourselves, and the truth about the world in which we live. This is why I believe that we should reject the definitions of beauty that are currently being used by Europeans and others, and instead look to the more natural definitions of beauty that come from the Eastern cultures. The beauty that my parents saw in Greece, that my friends and I sought as teenagers, and that our children seek today are things that can be appreciated and are not defined by concepts of beauty that are politically correct, but which actually harm people by undermining their ability to see and appreciate beauty in all its forms.