Meaning of Culture
Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere,
meaning "to cultivate"). When the concept first emerged in
eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Europe, it connoted a process of cultivation
or improvement, as in agriculture or horticulture. In the
nineteenth century, it came to refer first to the betterment or refinement of
the individual, especially through education, and then to the
fulfillment of national aspirations or ideals. In the mid-nineteenth
century, some scientists used the term "culture" to refer to a
universal human capacity. For the German sociologist, George Simmel,
culture referred to "the cultivation of individuals through the agency of
external forms which have been objectified in the course of
history".
Source. Wikipedia
Definition of culture
Culture is that complex whole which include knowledge,
belief, art, morals, law customs and any other capabilities acquired by man as
a member of society- Tylor
In an another definition he said; “Culture is an attribute
of man, acquired by him in time, as a member of society”
Culture is sum total of human achievements materials as well
as non-material, capable of transmission, sociologically i.e. by tradition and
communication, vertically as well as horizontally- Maxumdar HT
Culture is the totality of the group ways of thought and
action duly accepted and followed by the group of people – A F Walter Paul
Culture is socially transmitted system of idealized ways in
knowledge, practice and belief along with the artifacts that knowledge and
practice produce and maintain a they change in time – Green
Culture is integrated system of learned behavior patterns
which are characteristics of the member o society and which are not the
biological inheritance
Culture is the particular way of life of the society
Culture is genetically pre-determined: it is non instinctive
It is result of social invention and is transmitted and
maintained solely through communication and learning.
In 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn
compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A
Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions. However, the
word "culture" is most commonly used in three basic senses:
•
Excellence
of taste in the fine arts and humanities, also known as high culture
•
An
integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon
the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning
•
The
set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an
institution, organization or group
MANIFESTATIONS OF CULTURE
Cultural
differences manifest themselves in different ways and differing levels of
depth. Symbols represent the most superficial and values the deepest
manifestations of culture, with heroes and rituals in between.
- Symbols are words, gestures,
pictures, or objects that carry a particular meaning which is only
recognized by those who share a particular culture. New symbols easily
develop, old ones disappear. Symbols from one particular group are
regularly copied by others. This is why symbols represent the outermost
layer of a culture.
- Heroes are persons, past or
present, real or fictitious, who possess characteristics that are highly
prized in a culture. They also serve as models for behavior.
- Rituals are collective
activities, sometimes superfluous in reaching desired objectives, but are
considered as socially essential. They are therefore carried out most of
the times for their own sake (ways of greetings, paying respect to others,
religious and social ceremonies, etc.).
- The core of a culture is formed
by values. They are broad tendencies for preferences of certain state of
affairs to others (good-evil, right-wrong, natural-unnatural). Many values
remain unconscious to those who hold them. Therefore they often cannot be
discussed, nor they can be directly observed by others. Values can only be
inferred from the way people act under different circumstances.
- Symbols, heroes, and rituals
are the tangible or visual aspects of the practices of a culture. The true
cultural meaning of the practices is intangible; this is revealed only
when the practices are interpreted by the insiders.
Characteristics of Culture
•
Culture
is an acquired quality
•
Culture
is social not individual heritage of man
•
Culture
is idealistic; it embodies the ideas and norms of a groups. It is some total of
ideal patterns and norms of group of people
•
Culture
is total social heritage
•
Culture
fulfils some needs; Cultural fulfills those ethical and social needs of groups
which are ends in themselves
•
Culture
is an integrated system
•
Language
is chief vehicle of culture
•
Culture
evolves into more complex
•
Culture
is changing
•
Culture
is adaptive
