Difference between culture and civilization: Given similarities of culture and civilization.
The English
word ‘Culture’ is derived from the Latin term ‘cult or cultus’ meaning tilling,
or cultivating or refining and worship. In sum it means cultivating and
refining a thing to such an extent that its end product evokes our admiration
and respect. This is practically the same as ‘Sanskriti’ of the Sanskrit
language. The term ‘Sanskriti’ has been derived from the root ‘Kri (to do) of
Sanskrit language. Three words came from this root ‘Kri; prakriti’ (basic
matter or condition), ‘Sanskriti’ (refined matter or condition) and ‘vikriti’
(modified or decayed matter or condition) when ‘prakriti’ or a raw material is refined
it becomes ‘Sanskriti’ and when broken or damaged it becomes ‘vikriti’.
CONCEPT OF CULTURE
Culture is a
way of life. The food you eat, the clothes you wear, the language you speak in and
the God you worship all are aspects of culture. In very simple terms, we can
say that culture is the embodiment of the way in which we think and do things.
It is also the things that we have inherited as members of society. All the
achievements of human beings as members of social groups can be called culture.
Art, music, literature, architecture, sculpture, philosophy, religion and
science can be seen as aspects of culture. However, culture also includes the
customs, traditions, festivals, ways of living and one’s outlook on various issues
of life.
Culture thus
refers to a human-made environment which includes all the material and nonmaterial
products of group life that are transmitted from one generation to the next.
There is a general agreement among social scientists that culture consists of
explicit and implicit patterns of behaviour acquired by human beings. These may
be transmitted through symbols, constituting the distinctive achievements of
human groups, including their embodiment as artefacts. The essential core of culture
thus lies in those finer ideas which are transmitted within a group-both
historically derived as well as selected with their attached value. More recently,
culture denotes historically transmitted patterns of meanings embodied in
symbols, by means of which people communicate, perpetuate and develop their
knowledge about and express their attitudes toward life. Culture is the
expression of our nature in our modes of living and thinking. It may be seen in
our literature, in religious practices, in recreation and enjoyment. Culture
has two distinctive components, namely, material and non-material. Material
culture consists of objects that are related to the material aspect of our life
such as our dress, food, and household goods. Non-material culture refers to
ideas, ideals, thoughts and belief. Culture varies from place to place and
country to country. Its development is based on the historical process operating
in a local, regional or national context. For example, we differ in our ways of
greeting others, our clothing, food habits, social and religious customs and practices
from the West. In other words, the people of any country are characterised by their
distinctive cultural traditions.
CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION
The word
‘culture’ and ‘civilization’ are often used synonymously. However, they have clearly
defined meanings differentiating them. ‘Civilization’ means having better ways
of living and sometimes making nature bend to fulfil their needs. It also
includes organizing societies into politically well-defined groups working
collectively for improved conditions of life in matters of food, dress,
communication, and so on. Thus, some groups consider themselves as civilized
and look down upon others. This disposition of certain groups has even led to
wars and holocausts, resulting in mass destruction of human beings. On the
other hand, ‘culture’ refers to the inner being, a refinement of head and
heart. This includes arts and sciences, music and dance and various higher
pursuits of human life which are also classified as cultural activities. One
who may be poor and wearing cheap clothes may be considered ‘uncivilized’, but still,
he or she may be the most cultured person.
One
possessing ostentatious wealth may be considered as ‘civilized’ but he may not
be cultured’ Therefore, when we think of culture, we have to understand that it
is different from civilization. As we have seen, culture is the ‘higher levels
of inner refinement’ of a human being. Humans are not merely physical beings.
They live and act at three levels: physical, mental and spiritual. While better
ways of living socially and politically and better utilization of nature around
us may be termed as civilization. This is not enough to be cultured. Only when
the deeper levels of a person’s intellect and consciousness are brought into
expression can we call him/her ‘cultured’.
CULTURE AND HERITAG
Cultural
development is a historical process. Our ancestors learnt many things from
their predecessors. With the passage of time, they also added to it from their
own experience and gave up those which they did not consider useful. We in turn
have learnt many things from our ancestors. As time goes, we continue to add
new thoughts, new ideas to those already existent and sometimes we give up some
which we don’t consider useful any more. This is how culture is transmitted and
carried forward from generation to next generation. The culture we inherit from
our predecessors is called our cultural heritage. This heritage exists at
various levels. Humanity as a whole has inherited a culture which may be called
human heritage. A nation also inherits a culture which may be termed as national
cultural heritage.
Cultural
heritage includes all those aspects or values of culture transmitted to human
beings by their ancestors from generation to generation. They are cherished,
protected and maintained by them with unbroken continuity and they feel proud
of it. A few examples would be helpful in clarifying the concept of heritage.
The Taj Mahal, Swami Narayan Temple of Gandhinagar and Delhi, Red Fort of Agra,
Delhi’s Qutub Minar, Mysore Palace, Jain Temple of Dilwara (Rajasthan)
Nizamuddin Aulia’s Dargah, Golden Temple of Amritsar, Gurudwara Sisganj of
Delhi, Sanchi Stupa, Christian Church in Goa, India Gate etc., are all
important places of our heritage and are to be protected by all means.
Besides the
architectural creations, monuments, material artifacts, the intellectual achievements,
philosophy, treasures of knowledge, scientific inventions and discoveries are
also the part of heritage. In Indian context the contributions of Baudhayan,
Aryabhatta, Bhaskaracharya in the field of Mathematics, Astronomy and Astrology;
Kanad and Varahmihir in the field of Physics; Nagarjuna in the field of
Chemistry, Susruta and Charak in the field of Medicines and Patanjali in the
field of Yoga are profound treasures of IndianCultural heritage. Culture is
liable to change, but our heritage does not. We individuals, belonging to a
culture or a particular group, may acquire or borrow certain cultural traits of
other communities/cultures, but our belongingness to Indian cultural heritage
will remain unchanged. Our Indian cultural heritage will bind us together e.g.
Indian literature and scriptures namely Vedas, Upanishads Gita and Yoga System
etc. have contributed a lot by way of providing right knowledge, right action,
behavior and practices as complementary to the development of civilization.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE
Now let us
discuss some general characteristics, which are common to different cultures throughout
the world.
1. Culture is learned and acquired:
Culture is
acquired in the sense that there are certain behaviours which are acquired
through heredity. Individuals inherit certain qualities from their parents but
socio-cultural patterns are not inherited. These are learnt from family
members, from the group and the society in which they live. It is thus apparent
that the culture of human beings is influenced by the physical and social environment
through which they operate.
2. Culture is shared by a group of people:
A thought or
action may be called culture if it is shared and believed or practiced by a
group of people.
3. Culture is cumulative:
Different
knowledge embodied in culture can be passed from one generation to another
generation. More and more knowledge is added in the particular culture as the
time passes by. Each may work out solution to problems in life that passes from
one generation to another. This cycle remains as the particular culture goes
with time.
4. Culture changes:
There is
knowledge, thoughts or traditions that are lost as new cultural traits are
added. There are possibilities of cultural changes within the particular culture
as time passes.
5. Culture is dynamic:
No culture
remains on the permanent state. Culture is changing constantly as new ideas and
new techniques are added as time passes modifying or changing the old ways This
is the characteristics of culture that stems from the culture’s cumulative
quality.
6. Culture gives us a range of permissible behaviour patterns:
It involves
how an activity should be conducted, how an individual should act
appropriately.
7. Culture is diverse:
It is a
system that has several mutually interdependent parts. Although these parts are
separate, they are interdependent with one another forming culture as whole.
8. Culture is ideational:
Often it lays
down an ideal pattern of behaviour that are expected to be followed by
individuals so as to gain social acceptance from the people with the same
culture.
IMPORTANCE OF CULTURE IN HUMAN LIFE
Culture is
closely linked with life. It is not an add-on, an ornament that we as human
beings can use. It is not merely a touch of colour. It is what makes us human.
Without culture, there would be no humans. Culture is made up of traditions,
beliefs, way of life, from the most spiritual to the most material. It gives us
meaning, a way of leading our lives. Human beings are creators of culture and,
at the same time, culture is what makes us human. A fundamental element of
culture is the issue of religious belief and its symbolic expression. We must
value religious identity and be aware of current efforts to make progress in
terms of interfaith dialogue, which is actually an intercultural dialogue. As
the world is becoming more and more global and we coexist on a more global
level we can’t just think there’s only one right way of living or that any one
is valid. The need for coexistence makes the coexistence of cultures and
beliefs necessary. In order to not make such mistakes, the best thing we can do
is get to know other cultures, while also getting to know our own. How can we
dialogue with other cultures, if we don’t really know what our own culture is? The
three eternal and universal values of Truth, Beauty and Goodness are closely
linked.
with
culture. It is culture that brings us closer to truth through philosophy and
religion; it brings beauty in our lives through the Arts and makes us aesthetic
beings; and it is culture that makes us ethical beings by bringing us closer to
other human beings and teaching us the values of love, tolerance and peace.