African Traditional Healing in Today’s World
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document in english
international relations
term papers
date published 24/04/2007
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SummaryWith the advent of postmodern theory in the mid-to-late twentieth century, Western thought has come to realize the need for a more complete view of human knowledge and being, one that does not fall prey to the modernist Enlightenment fascination with ‘rationality’ and ‘objectivity’ which claims to have a monopoly on truth. In the realm of healing, this has led to the development of a fuller conception of human subjectivity, the so-called ‘biopsychosocial’ model, which acknowledges that biomedical treatment is alone not adequate for the health of an individual (Fox 5). Instead, a more holistic approach is required, in fact, the kind of approach used in traditional healing. Despite the seeming compatibility of these two views, integrating traditional healing practices into the ‘modern’ world has turned out to be quite problematic due to the prestige enjoyed by Western scientific medicine, the religious nature and context of traditional medicine, and the dangers of exploitation of indigenous knowledge in the modern, globalized capitalist system.
Table of Contents- The cultural definition of the individual's place in society
- Western Medicine and Traditional Healing
- Traditional Healing
- Traditional Healing and Globalization
- Conclusion
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