ABSTRACT
The chapter uses Heidegger’s characterization of human existence as “being able to be” to develop a more nuanced account of cases where such “ability to be” is hampered by illness. Considering cases of partial ability to be, or modified ability to be, the chapter claims that Heidegger’s notion ought to be expanded to include illness, disability, and ageing. The chapter suggests this expansion to have two components: first, the notion of “being able to be” must be broadened to include radically differing abilities. Second, “inability to be” needs to be recognized as a way of being. The chapter then asks whether one can be ill and happy. The conditions for happiness must exclude physical health, the chapter argues; otherwise, we risk excluding almost all humans as they age or fall ill from being able to pursue the good life. Finally, the possibility of “health within illness” is developed and explained.
