This quote from Peter Sloterdijk's You Have to Change Your Life provides a profound insight into how immune systems operate not just as reactive mechanisms but as anticipatory bodies of knowledge. The concept of the immune system as "embodied expectations of injury" reorients our understanding from seeing immunity solely as a defensive reaction to viewing it as a proactive, almost predictive, process. It positions our biological defenses as programmed not only to respond but to expect certain forms of injury, highlighting the anticipatory nature of life preservation. This challenges traditional interpretations that frame the immune system as merely reactive, instead emphasizing a dynamic preparedness that is integral to survival.

By describing immune systems as programs of protection and repair, Sloterdijk touches on the continuous relationship between the body and its environment, where experiences of harm are internalized and translated into protective strategies. It is as if our bodies carry a history of potential threats and injuries, which they then manage preemptively. Extending this metaphor beyond biology, it invites a reflection on how creatures develop systems—physical or philosophical—that anticipate risks and prepare reparative responses, revealing a fundamental dimension of existence grounded in foresight and adaptability.

In a broader philosophical context, this idea encourages a shift from viewing life and living systems as passive entities subjected to external harm to active agents that incorporate potential challenges into their very constitution. It also implies that change and transformation, as suggested in Sloterdijk's book, can be understood as processes deeply linked to anticipating, managing, and repairing the inevitable wear and tear of existence. Thus, the quote opens a rich avenue for thinking about how we engage with our own vulnerabilities and the life transformations that arise from evolving protection mechanisms.