When we hear the word “culture,” the first things that often come to mind are art, traditions, or food. However, culture is much more than that. It is one of the most powerful forces shaping human societies, originating from humanity’s interaction with nature. In this article, we will explore culture in depth, examining both its definition and its historical evolution.

Defining Culture and Its Layers of Meaning

The word “culture” traces its roots back to the Latin term colere, which means “to cultivate” or “to till.” From this root, we get derivatives such as cultura and cultus, referring to concepts like agriculture, nurturing, developing, planting, and the cultivation of arable land.

Culture encompasses what is shaped by human effort, intelligence, and creativity. It is the result of humanity’s interaction with nature, expressed across diverse domains such as agriculture, art, science, and social structures. Far beyond a purely agricultural term, culture represents the growth, progress, and accumulated knowledge of human societies.

Culture is not the property of a single individual, it is a shared legacy, built collectively by many people who have undergone similar education and life experiences.

It stands as one of humanity’s most complex and profound constructs. Influencing and enriching every aspect of life, culture has historically shaped communities’ values, beliefs, behaviors, arts, and modes of communication.

More than just traditions, habits, or rituals, culture forms the cornerstone of our identity, our sense of belonging, and the very structures of our societies. In this article, we aim to understand culture’s complexity and depth, exploring what it truly means.

Defining culture can be likened to describing an abstract painting.

Its multifaceted and intricate nature extends far beyond art alone; it spans our ways of thinking, our customs, belief systems, and even our clothing styles.

This diversity, however, only underscores culture’s significance and complexity, making it both fascinating and challenging to define. In everyday life, culture manifests as a unifying force—bringing people from different countries together to listen to the same music, taste the same food, or participate in shared rituals. Thus, defining culture is not merely an academic exercise; it is a journey of discovering our humanity, understanding differences, and reflecting on our values.

The Historical Evolution of Culture’s Definition

In 1952, American anthropologists Kroeber and Kluckhohn conducted an extensive study to examine the diversity of cultural definitions, compiling 164 different interpretations. This variety highlights just how much the meaning of culture can change depending on context.

The first notable definition came from Matthew Arnold in his 1867 work Culture and Anarchy, where he described culture as the products of refined, intellectual, or artistic effort. Even today, this definition contrasts with what we now call “popular culture,” representing the so-called “high culture.” According to Arnold, those who possess culture constitute only a small segment of society, while the rest are potential sources of anarchy. His approach frames culture primarily in an aesthetic context.

In contrast, Edward Tylor, in his 1870 work Primitive Culture, argued that culture is a universal feature across all social groups. He defined it as “that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by humans as members of society.” Tylor’s definition remained influential in anthropology for decades and was later adapted by political scientists in the late 1950s to describe “political culture.” Even anthropologists who rejected evolutionary perspectives recognized the validity of Tylor’s concept of culture as a “complex whole.”

Finally, the work of Franz Boas in the twentieth century, alongside the ideas of Johann von Herder in the 18th century, further diversified the understanding of culture. Unlike Tylor and Arnold, Boas emphasized that each society has its own unique culture, challenging the uniformity emphasized by cultural evolutionists. He also stressed that cultural values should not be judged as “low” or “high,” promoting cultural relativism.

Definitions of Culture Across Different Scholars

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Tylor (1870)

Culture is a complex whole that encompasses knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, laws, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by humans as members of society.

Kroeber & Kluckhohn (1952)

Culture includes the unique achievements of human communities, encompassing artificial and tangible behaviors learned and transmitted through symbols, as well as arrangements within artificial contexts. Its core consists of traditional ideas (historically derived and selected) and their associated values. Cultural systems can be considered both as products of actions and as conditional elements guiding future behavior.

T. Schwartz (1992)

Culture consists of the derivatives of experiences learned or created by individuals within a population or society, shaped by interpretations from past generations, contemporaries, or the individuals themselves.

Hofstede (1994)

Culture is the collective programming of the mind that distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from another.

Matsumoto (1996)

Culture is a set of attitudes, values, beliefs, and behaviors shared by a group, transmitted from one generation to the next, yet experienced differently by each individual.

Spencer-Oatey (2008)

Culture is a set of core assumptions, values, life orientations, beliefs, policies, procedures, and behavioral norms shared by a group of people that influence, but do not determine, each member’s behavior.

Meaning of Cultural Heritage

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Culture is a rich and complex heritage accumulated by human communities. Shaped by ideas, beliefs, behaviors, and lifestyles, this heritage is passed down through generations and continuously evolves. Culture serves as a living mirror, reflecting a society’s identity, past, and future.

Culture is not limited to art; it manifests across a wide range of areas, including ways of thinking, traditions, belief systems, rituals, clothing styles, food, and architecture. This diversity makes culture a multifaceted concept with rich meanings in every language.

The richness of different communities around the world is directly tied to the depth and diversity of their cultures. Culture acts as a unifying force, bringing people together while celebrating their differences as a source of strength. Cultural interactions allow new ideas, perspectives, and values to circulate, contributing to the ongoing evolution of cultures.

Every culture is shaped by the knowledge and experiences accumulated throughout history. As this heritage is passed to future generations, it is reinterpreted and updated. The universal and local elements of culture allow a community to express both its shared identity and its unique characteristics.

Culture bridges generational gaps like a tapestry woven from history, experience, and shared expression. It transcends boundaries, unites individuals, and surpasses the constraints of time. Understanding culture is not just an academic pursuit, it is a journey of discovering our own humanity and exploring the collective spirit of past and present societies. Delving into culture’s layers offers insights into the richness of human existence and fosters empathy and tolerance. This process deepens our appreciation for the diverse world we inhabit.