This book assesses the conceptual and practical contributions of the normativist and well-being approaches to health. A particular emphasis is placed on the holistic theory of Lennart Nordenfelt. The contributions of this theory are synthesized and discussed, and their relevance is put to the test, particularly with regard to mental health, which is particularly original and innovative in the field. Particular attention is paid to Nordenfelt's notions of ability and compulsion, assessing their relevance to the definition of the pathological character of depression and addiction. In addition, the book includes discussions of the notions of function and harm, for which it proposes redefinitions that take account of the most recent developments in the philosophy of medicine. Finally, the book extends this reflection on the central notions emerging from normativism in the definition of health: well-being by providing a critical analysis of the relationship between those two concepts. Several chapters discuss the relevance of a notion of well-being in the definition of health, mobilizing the philosophy of well-being as well as medical ethics.

Élodie Boissard is Doctor in Philosophy at the crossroads between the philosophy of affective states and the philosophy of psychiatry. She published two monographs : Une histoire française de la dépression. De la tristesse mélancolique à l'humeur dépressive (Classiques Garnier 2026), Philosophie de la dépression (Vrin, 2026). She also published several articles on moods, emotions and depression. She is currently working in the philosophy of moods and emotions, in the philosophy and neuroscience of addiction, and in the philosophy of psychiatry about the relevance of a normativist approach to mental health and illness for depression, addiction and autism.

Élodie Giroux is Professor in philosophy of science and medicine at Lyon 3 University and researcher at the Lyon Institute of Philosophical Researches. Her main works are on history and philosophy of modern epidemiology, causation in medicine and public health, health and disease concepts, precision medicine and environmental health. Besides numerous papers and editions of special issues (on the history of risk factor epidemiology, on precision medicine, humanism in medicine, exposome research, etc.), her publications include several books such as Naturalism in the Philosophy of Health: Issues and Implications (2016, Springer) and Integrative Approaches in Environmental Health and Exposome Research (2023, Palgrave MacMillan).