What is Culture?

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Culture is the integrated pattern of human knowledge, beliefs, and behavior. This consists of language, ideas, customs, morals, laws, taboos, institutions, tools, techniques, work of arts, rituals, and other capacities and habitats acquired by a person as a member of society.

The Magisterium of the Church explains culture as "the set of means used by mankind to become more virtuous and reasonable in order to become fully human. In its fullest sense, culture means opening up to the divine, and ultimately, a religious dimension." Based on this Church definition, it is clear that culture is meant to serve human persons.

Sociologist categorized culture into material and non-material culture. Non-material culture consists of language, values, rules, knowledge, and meanings shared by members of society. Material culture is the physical object that a society produces - tools, streets, homes, and toys, to name a few.

Culture is passed on to the next generation by learning not through the genes or heredity. "Culture" includes all human phenomena which are not purely results of human genetics.

Characteristics of Culture

One. Culture is shared and transmitted - According to Geert, culture is a collective programming of the mind that distinguishes the members of one group of people from another. It is shared by and transmitted among the members of a social group. Generally, culture is transmitted by means of ideas. The acquired learning of culture is passed on to succeeding generations primarily through language and other symbolic means of communication.

Two. Culture is learned and acquired - Not all things shared generally by people in a particular group are cultural. Culture is not automatic. It is acquired through experiences. No one is equipped with a particular language, values, or knowledge.

Three. Culture is a social phenomenon - Culture is often perceived as a social phenomenon. Cultural practices and beliefs are shaped through the interactions of individuals living in the same social environment. Generally, culture is a product developed by people interacting in a group. It is social due to the natural tendency of humans to be social, whether voluntary or not.

Four. Culture gratifies human needs - Patterns of culture exist and persist because they continue to satisfy human needs. People tend to habitually use systems that satiate their basic human desires in all aspects of life.

Five. Culture is dynamic - It is dynamic and not static. It changes over time. These changes may come in the form of discoveries, inventions, or cultural adoption.

Six. Culture is integrated - Certain features or elements that make up a particular culture are not random - they are integrated. The components of culture - attitudes, values, ideas, and moral norms are integrated into a whole system for individuals in the same social environment to share.

The Human Person and Culture

Enculturation, Inculturation, and Acculturation

How Culture Shapes the Moral Agent

Cultural Views

Overview

The text provides a comprehensive overview of culture, describing it as an integrated pattern of knowledge and behavior within a society. It highlights the ways culture is learned, shared, and transformed through various processes that affect individuals and groups.

Key Points

1Culture is an integrated and evolving pattern of human knowledge and behavior
2It consists of both material and non-material aspects that are learned and transmitted
3Enculturation refers to how individuals learn their culture from infancy through adulthood
4Inculturation involves the integration of cultural values with religious beliefs
5Acculturation is the process of cultural modification through interaction with other cultures.

Details

Category: Humanities

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