Samuel Levander: The invasive health craze will soon overshadow everything else

An pervasive obsession with health, amplified by experts and social media influencers, is increasingly dominating public discourse and personal lives. This trend, characterized by constant self-monitoring and optimization, risks overshadowing other vital aspects of human existence. The author likens this phenomenon to a digital pantheon of influencers personifying every modern desire, with figures like Bryan Johnson, dedicated to extreme life extension, embodying the health optimization craze.

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The Greek gods are sometimes called 'hyperhuman.' Because they resemble us, swollen to grotesque grandeur.

This relentless pursuit of health is deeply intertwined with the prevailing productivity culture. The two reinforce each other, creating an invasive mindset that prioritizes constant improvement in both health and output. This dual focus, while appearing as common sense, grows unchecked, potentially obscuring a broader view of life. Experts like Anders Hansen are presented as contemporary spiritual authorities promoting the idea that the most meaningful measure of our actions is their impact on physiological metrics such as cortisol levels and sleep patterns.

The article introduces the concept of "sovereignty" from philosopher Georges Bataille. In Bataille's view, a person experiences true sovereignty only in fleeting moments when they are not preoccupied with future planning or calculations. All work and even self-serving actions are considered "servile" because they are directed toward a future that, strictly speaking, does not yet exist. This focus on the future, and the constant effort to optimize for it, means individuals are slaves to a time that is not yet real.

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Our time's greatest spiritual authority is called Anders Hansen.

Levander suggests that the current health obsession, driven by a desire to control and extend life, represents a form of "bourgeoisie of the pulse watch." It reflects a societal tendency to quantify and manage every aspect of life, including our very existence, in the pursuit of an idealized, optimized future. This relentless focus on measurable health outcomes detracts from the value of the present moment and the unquantifiable aspects of human experience.

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All work and all calculation (even pure egoism) is in some sense 'servile.' It always serves the future, which we are necessarily slaves to. Even though it, strictly speaking, does not exist.