Vom Wert des Leidens: Der Krankheitsbegriff bei Nietzsche

The far-reaching question of what should be considered sick and what healthy in our society is no longer merely a debate of conventional medicine. Thus, it is hardly surprising that one engages with the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche on this topic from a philosophical perspective, given the research question. Unlike many other works, the methodological focus of this study is not on Nietzsche's biography, but rather on his actual communications from the complete works he authorized for publication. By thoroughly capturing and categorizing the relevant passages, a threefold concept of illness emerges, from which Nietzsche's major postulates can be systematically developed. Ultimately, an attempt is made to present the phenomenon of 'illness' within a general definition of terms. This sometimes means understanding 'illness' not merely as the opposite of 'health,' but rather considering it as an integral part of physical and especially mental well-being. Ultimately, suffering gains its value by transforming illness into an opportunity for 'self-overcoming' and thus contributing to an enhancement of the self.