The Concept of Culture
Culture refers to the values, beliefs, and system of communication that define a group or society as a whole. It is distinct from the social structure and economic aspects of a community but is connected to these in a continuous relationship that informs and is informed by these components. The concept of culture is intangible and cannot be directly observed by outsiders; instead, it is interpreted through the actions of the people within that culture. Examples of cultural behavior include art and literature, language and communication, lifestyles and habits, and value systems and traditions.
Anthropologists use the term “culture” broadly to describe a range of things that distinguish one group from another, and these can include anything from the way that members dress to how they speak to the foods that they eat. In general, a person’s culture is shaped by the experiences they have had in life and the expectations that their parents and grandparents had for them. These are called cultural “imprints,” and they form the basis for a person’s sense of identity, self-worth, and emotions.
The concept of culture is complex and multifaceted, which is why it has been the subject of intense debate among anthropologists. For early anthropologists, like Edward Tylor, culture was defined as “a collective programming of the mind that distinguishes a race from another.” More recently, scholars have expanded upon this definition to include a variety of things that shape a person’s worldview.
Some anthropologists, like Ruth Benedict and Franz Boas, have used their work to emphasize the importance of enculturation in the development of an individual’s personality and emotional state. These anthropologists have also advocated the need for holism, or approaches to research that consider the entire context of a society including its history.
Other anthropologists, such as Alfred Kroeber and Clifford Geertz, have worked to establish the importance of language as an element of culture. These anthropologists have also sought to break down the barrier between “high culture” and the everyday lives of people around the world.
Moreover, other scholars, such as Herder and Carl Jung, have linked the study of culture to critical philosophy. They have argued that the study of culture should seek to criticize rather than replace the study of philosophy as the foundation discipline for human understanding.
Today, many anthropologists focus on studying the ways in which cultural symbols are manipulated by people to achieve political goals. This includes the ways in which a culture can be manipulated to sustain unsustainable activities and, more recently, to promote environmental and social sustainability. In this way, cultural anthropology has helped to reveal the link between oracles and digital algorithms as well as to explore sovereignty on Mars and envision post-coal futures.
Culture refers to the values, beliefs, and system of communication that define a group or society as a whole. It is distinct from the social structure and economic aspects of a community but is connected to these in a continuous relationship that informs and is informed by these components. The concept of culture is intangible and cannot be directly observed by outsiders; instead, it is interpreted through the actions of the people within that culture. Examples of cultural behavior include art and literature, language and communication, lifestyles and habits, and value systems and traditions. Anthropologists use the term “culture” broadly to describe a range of things that distinguish one group from another, and these can include anything from the way that members dress to how they speak to the foods that they eat. In general, a person’s culture is shaped by the experiences they have had in life and the expectations that their parents and grandparents had for them. These are called cultural “imprints,” and they form the basis for a person’s sense of identity, self-worth, and emotions. The concept of culture is complex and multifaceted, which is why it has been the subject of intense debate among anthropologists. For early anthropologists, like Edward Tylor, culture was defined as “a collective programming of the mind that distinguishes a race from another.” More recently, scholars have expanded upon this definition to include a variety of things that shape a person’s worldview. Some anthropologists, like Ruth Benedict and Franz Boas, have used their work to emphasize the importance of enculturation in the development of an individual’s personality and emotional state. These anthropologists have also advocated the need for holism, or approaches to research that consider the entire context of a society including its history. Other anthropologists, such as Alfred Kroeber and Clifford Geertz, have worked to establish the importance of language as an element of culture. These anthropologists have also sought to break down the barrier between “high culture” and the everyday lives of people around the world. Moreover, other scholars, such as Herder and Carl Jung, have linked the study of culture to critical philosophy. They have argued that the study of culture should seek to criticize rather than replace the study of philosophy as the foundation discipline for human understanding. Today, many anthropologists focus on studying the ways in which cultural symbols are manipulated by people to achieve political goals. This includes the ways in which a culture can be manipulated to sustain unsustainable activities and, more recently, to promote environmental and social sustainability. In this way, cultural anthropology has helped to reveal the link between oracles and digital algorithms as well as to explore sovereignty on Mars and envision post-coal futures.