CHAPTER (BLM) 1 CULTURE (KLTR) vs
CIVILIZATION (MEDENYET)
INTRODUCTION (GR)
Human beings are social creatures.
Culture and civilization being two of the factors that determine the
nature of the society we live in, it is of extreme importance that we are
aware of the many differences between the two words.
Although, most of the time, the two words go hand in hand, it would
be inaccurate to use them synonymously since culture and civilization
stand for very different concepts.
As these terms not only are distinct from but overlap with one
another in meaning, and as they are not merely disciplinary but
historical, they constitute a perfect case of semantic entanglement.
CULTURE (KLTR)
Culture, a concept that emerged in the 20th century, is a central
concept in anthropology referring to various human phenomena that
cannot be directly attributed to ones genetics.
While culture is usually interpreted in various ways, the most
accepted definition of the term would be the distinct ways that people
creatively represent and classify the different ways that they lived
within each community.
The term culture refers to all the characteristics common to a
particular group of people that are learned and not given by nature.
Culture involves beliefs, attitudes, values, and traditions that are
shared by a group of people.
Thus, we must consider more than the clothes we wear, the movies
we watch, or the video games we play, all representations of
environment, as culture.
Culture may be defined as the complex system of values, traits,
morals, and customs shared by a society.
It is an integrated system of learned behavioral patterns which are
not of biological origin and are characteristic of the members in a
certain society, ethnic, or social group.
Culture teaches people how to behave, and it conditions their
reactions.
The important thing to remember is that culture is a powerful
operating force that molds the way we think and behave.
Culture also involves the psychological aspects of our expectations of
the communication context.
Culture can exist in either physical or intangible form.
Physical artifacts of culture would include any physical material that is
materialized as a product of beliefs, traditions and customs of a
certain group of people with a definite culture.
The intangible aspects of a culture would be the customs, traditions,
beliefs, language, and behaviors of a certain group of people
belonging to a definite culture.
Culture often refers to an internal aspect of the human being,
representing ones feelings, thoughts, ideals, art, literature and
values.
CIVILIZATION (MEDENYET=UYGARLIK)
Civilization is the state of condition of persons living and functioning
together, jointly, cooperatively so that they produce and experience
the benefits of so living and functioning jointly and cooperatively.
Civilization is derived from the Latin word civilis, which means civil.
Other related Latin words are 'civis', meaning citizen, and 'civitas
meaning city.
Over the years it has been used to indicate various meanings.
In the 7th century, Emperor Justinian consolidated Roman civil law into
the Corpus Juris Civilis.
After this collection was discovered in the 11th century at the
University of Bologna, the word civil began to be used more often.
In the 18th century, the word was used to distinguish behavior.
Behaving as a civil person was the opposite as behaving as a
barbarian.
Later on, during the time of the French Revolution (late 1700s to early
1800s), the word referred to humanity in its entirety rather than just a
specific group of people.
As modern times approach, the word is sometimes used
interchangeably with the word 'culture.'
Popular usage defines "civilization" along these lines: "an advanced
state of human society, in which a high level of culture, science,
industry and government have been reached."
This definition is problematic for archeologists, anthropologists, and
historians, because it contains an overt value judgment that
civilization is better, more advanced, and superior to other forms of
social organization.
Yet we know that some aspects of civilization seem in our judgment
quite negative; large-scale warfare, slavery, epidemic disease, and the
subordination of women may come to mind.
CULTURE VS. CIVILIZATION
According to anthropologists of 19th century, Culture is earlier and
Civilization is later.
Everything made by man is culture, civilization is an advanced state of
cultural development.
Civilization is a bigger unit than culture because it is a complex
aggregate of the society that dwells within a certain area, along with
its forms of government, norms, and even culture.
Thus, culture is just a spec or a portion of an entire civilization.
For example, the Turkish civilization has the Turkish culture in the
same way as the Egyptian civilization has their Egyptian culture.
A culture ordinarily exists within a civilization.
In this regard, each civilization can contain not only one but several
cultures.
Comparing culture and civilization is like showing the difference
between language and the country to which it is being used.
Culture can exist in itself whereas civilization cannot be called a
civilization if it does not possess a certain culture.
Its just like asking how a nation can exist on its own without the use
of a medium of communication.
Hence, a civilization will become empty if it does not have its culture,
no matter how little it is.
Culture can be something that is tangible and it can also be something
that isnt.
Culture can become a physical material if it is a product of the beliefs,
customs and practices of a certain people with a definite culture.
But a civilization is something that can be seen as a whole and it is
more or less tangible although its basic components, like culture, can
be immaterial.
Culture can be learned and in the same manner it can also be
transmitted from one generation to the next.
Using a medium of speech and communication, it is possible for a
certain type of culture to evolve and even be inherited by another
group of people.
On the other hand, civilization cannot be transferred by mere language
alone.
Because of its complexity and magnitude, you need to transfer all of
the raw aggregates of a civilization for it to be entirely passed on.
It just grows, degrades and may eventually end if all its subunits will
fail.
Differences between Culture and Civilization (Sociologist View)
Culture
Civilization
Culture includes religion, art philosophy,
literature, music, dance, etc. which
brings satisfaction and pleasure to many.
It is the expression of final aspects of life.
Civilization includes all those
things by means of which some
other objective is attained. Type
writers, motors, etc. come under
this category. Civilization
consists of technology or the
authority of man over natural
phenomenon as well as social
technology which control man's
behavior.
Culture is what we are.
Civilization is what we have.
Culture has no standard of measurement
because it is an end in itself.
Civilization has a precised
standard of measurement. The
universal standard of civilization
is utility because civilization is a
means.
Culture cannot be said to be advancing. It Civilization is always advancing.
cannot be asserted that the art,
The various constituents of
literature, thoughts are ideals of todays
civilizations namely machines,
and superior to those of past.
means of transportation,
communication, etc. are
constantly progressive.
Culture is internal and an end. It is
related to internal thoughts, feelings,
ideals, values, etc. It is like the soul of an
individual.
Civilization is external and a
means. It is the means for the
expression and manifestation of
the grandness, it is like the body
of an individual.
Differences between Culture and Civilization (Anthropologist View)
Culture
Civilization
All societies have culture.
Only a few societies have civilization.
Culture is earlier
Civilization is later
Culture is pre-condition for
civilization to develop.
Civilization represents a stage of cultural
advancement
Culture is super organic
Culture is a totality of
traditions
Civilization is a part of reality culture
Civilization is a totality of great and little
traditions.
Characteristics of Civilization
Large urban centers
Full-time specialist occupations
Primary producers of food paying surpluses to deity or ruler
Monumental architecture
Ruling class exempt from manual labor
System for recording information
Development of exact, practical sciences
Monumental art
Regular importation of raw materials
State religion/ideology
Persistent state structures
standing armies
notable modification of the natural environment
system of writing and numbers
regular foreign trade
epidemics of disease
Characteristics of Civilization