ABSTRACT
While it is true that putting abstract principles into practice is objectively difficult, it is nevertheless inevitable that the expectations concerning public health are very high, and the unresolved tension between preparedness and uncertainty merits further thought. These aspects call for our attention and open onto new lines of research suggested by the pandemic and the challenges of understanding its mechanisms and social determinants. The social sciences can cast light on the ambiguity of the concepts involved in healthcare, the need for an interdisciplinary outlook and the reasons that none of the practices surrounding health can be taken for granted.
