Abstract
IT is often taken for granted that education in general, and especially scientific training1,2, can eliminate the traditional supernatural beliefs widely held in African cultures. The outcome of extensive anthropological studies in this sphere, as discussed, for example, by Horton3, lends little support to this; on the contrary, it shows that such beliefs are deeply rooted in systems of social relations. If, as has been suggested4, a magico-mythical world view is an obstacle to the emergence of creative scientists (as distinct from competent practitioners of scientific techniques), then the issue is an important one. There is some evidence regarding primary and secondary schooling5,6 which indicates that education is far less effective in this respect than is usually assumed. Little seems to be known about higher education in this context, so a study was carried out at the University of Ghana.
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References
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JAHODA, G. Scientific Training and the Persistence of Traditional Beliefs among West African University Students. Nature 220, 1356 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/2201356a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2201356a0
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