Health discourse: historical and comparative analysis

The article provides an analysis of the main research approaches to the study of health and ways to preserve it. The author points out that the term health, which reflects one of the current trends in modern social and scientific discourse, was entered into the research field quite a long time ago. However, his understanding was not unambiguous: the analysis reflects that over the epochs, in dependence on time, the level of knowledge and development of society, views and scientific theories which were dominated in a particular period, its content was changed. Based on historical and comparative analysis, the author describes the main stages, approaches and directions to the study of the phenomenon of health, classifies them, identifies the key factors in the evolution of views on health problems, and makes an attempt to identify the features characteristic of each period. In conclusion, the author underlines that under the society development the category “health” has been changed. The key points of its content are based on its social significance, vital value, the need to create a system of public administration, which involves its comprehensive study based on an integrative approach.