On shaping a better engagement with risk guided by a practical philosophy of health.
I have been thinking a lot lately about risk and its role in our understanding of health. Risk, by definition, is our estimate of the potential for X outcome—that outcome being, in the case of health, sickness or injury. Most of us have an intuitive understanding of the link between health and risk. We regularly make choices about our health that involve our perception of what is risky and what is not. Such choices include choosing not to drive when it is icy, avoiding certain food brands when a recall is announced, and wearing sunscreen to the beach. We also factor in risk when making choices with an eye towards the long-term, such as choosing to live in a safe neighborhood, opting not to skip annual doctor’s appointments, and embracing regular exercise. We make these choices based on a calculation of risk. We think about the risk of taking or not taking certain actions and we decide to do what we think will keep us safe and healthy.
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