Paper short abstract:

The paper offers a methodological approach to decolonialisation. It mediates modern and traditional medicine by means of offering conceptual changes.

Paper long abstract:

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) traditional healing methods should be integrated into national health systems. The reasons of why this fails in Botswana are manifold and complex but can be associated with colonial traits and especially the introduction of a modern health system. Understanding how practices, knowledge and modes of inference produce coherent systems of thought in different medical epistemes can reveal their respective strengths.

Traditional healers are often accused of irrationality and mysticism. From a scientific point of view, conclusions based on spirituality do not have the same status as conclusions generated on the basis of rational thinking. However, from a traditional doctor's point of view it is the appropriate mode of inferring and even modern doctors would have to agree, if they knew that healers attach only very uncertain status to their conclusions.

The concept of transrationality allows to describe the specific character and benefits of spiritual healing practices and can thus contribute to their appreciation. It can therefore be considered a contribution to conceptual decolonisation. It could be helpful in establishing better cooperation between traditional healers and modern health systems, as the WHO is striving for.