The Definition of Culture
Culture is a term used to describe the social behavior, institutions and norms found in human societies. It also includes the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs and capabilities of the individuals within these groups. It is often based on and attributed to a specific region or location. The study of culture is often referred to as cultural history and encompasses all aspects of life that are considered part of a people’s identity, including language, cuisine, music, and art.
Sociologists define culture as the values, traditions and norms that make up a society and serve to identify that society as a whole. It is distinct from both social structure and economic aspects of a society, yet it informs them both continuously and can be formed by them as well. This makes culture a dynamic and fluid concept.
Some sociocultural systems are quite stable, but others change significantly over time as a result of external forces or internal pressures. For example, the changes seen in the cultures of some Eskimo groups are often a response to the environment in which they live. Initially, the cultures of these groups centered around hunting and fishing. However, with the introduction of new tools, techniques and foods, these societies gradually shifted to a more sedentary lifestyle that relied more on domesticating herds and farming.
The process of defining culture is complicated by the fact that different scholars use the term in slightly different ways. For example, some scholars focus primarily on high culture, such as literature and artistic productions, while others take a more broad view of the concept to include all aspects of daily life that contribute to a person’s sense of self and his or her relationship with the world.
A major challenge in the field of cultural history is to recognize that a culture may be an instrument for domination and oppression as well as a force for creativity, resistance and liberation. As British historian Edward Tylor observed, the cultural heritage of a people may be both “the heritage of savages and the heritage of civilized men.”
While some cultures are more stable than others, all have a strong impact on the lives of their members. As such, they are all worthy of preservation and study. The key is to balance the diverse cultural influences in a democratic system in order to foster stability, encourage civic engagement and ensure that all voices are heard in the democratic process. This is a task that is accomplished through careful consideration of the long-term implications of decisions made by political leaders. In addition, it is vital to understand that a cultural perspective must be taken into account when interpreting the actions of a democracy’s past leaders.
Culture is a term used to describe the social behavior, institutions and norms found in human societies. It also includes the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs and capabilities of the individuals within these groups. It is often based on and attributed to a specific region or location. The study of culture is often referred to as cultural history and encompasses all aspects of life that are considered part of a people’s identity, including language, cuisine, music, and art. Sociologists define culture as the values, traditions and norms that make up a society and serve to identify that society as a whole. It is distinct from both social structure and economic aspects of a society, yet it informs them both continuously and can be formed by them as well. This makes culture a dynamic and fluid concept. Some sociocultural systems are quite stable, but others change significantly over time as a result of external forces or internal pressures. For example, the changes seen in the cultures of some Eskimo groups are often a response to the environment in which they live. Initially, the cultures of these groups centered around hunting and fishing. However, with the introduction of new tools, techniques and foods, these societies gradually shifted to a more sedentary lifestyle that relied more on domesticating herds and farming. The process of defining culture is complicated by the fact that different scholars use the term in slightly different ways. For example, some scholars focus primarily on high culture, such as literature and artistic productions, while others take a more broad view of the concept to include all aspects of daily life that contribute to a person’s sense of self and his or her relationship with the world. A major challenge in the field of cultural history is to recognize that a culture may be an instrument for domination and oppression as well as a force for creativity, resistance and liberation. As British historian Edward Tylor observed, the cultural heritage of a people may be both “the heritage of savages and the heritage of civilized men.” While some cultures are more stable than others, all have a strong impact on the lives of their members. As such, they are all worthy of preservation and study. The key is to balance the diverse cultural influences in a democratic system in order to foster stability, encourage civic engagement and ensure that all voices are heard in the democratic process. This is a task that is accomplished through careful consideration of the long-term implications of decisions made by political leaders. In addition, it is vital to understand that a cultural perspective must be taken into account when interpreting the actions of a democracy’s past leaders.