Culture: The Vital Aspect of a Human Society

The management of the blog has decided to take culture as part of its posts from now henceforth, the cultural aspect of man—it will be more like an intellectual discussion among humans who are part of this culture.

What is culture? According to Harris, culture is the pattern of behavior and thought learned and shaped as characteristics of a social group. Word Web defines it as “all the knowledge and values shared by a society.” The simplest and most common definition is that culture is the people’s way of life. Man is distinguished among animals and his culture is a vital aspect of distinction. Man adapts to his environment by cultural codes.

Among all animals, even the ones who make incomprehensible sounds and are intelligent enough to use tools, man is the only animal that communicates with vocal symbols and sounds. And also, man is the only animal that creates culture and preserves it.

Why is this culture necessary? It is necessary because man’s innate behavior can be barbaric and harmful to others sometimes, so laws, processes and ways of life are created to curtail the evil and harmful tendencies of man. So, the control the excesses of individual in a community, culture is needed; in order to sustain and enhance the growth and existence of that community.

Under this culture are contents of a culture that makes up a community. These contents include religion, economics, technology, kinship, social organizations and so more. All these act as the contents for the culture of a particular society.

Cultures of different societies varies, the culture found in Asia is not the one found in Africa, neither is it the one found in Australia. The culture of society changes; gay marriages were seen as a taboo, but today it is accepted in some parts of the world. Culture is acquired socially, it is not biologically acquired. Every human has a cultural background, though sometimes, the culture of the past might conflict with the culture of the present if the individual happens to change location. No culture is better than the other; therefore, European culture is not better than African culture. Sometimes, different cultures are related.

Anthropologists posit that the genetic or the innate make-up of a man is not the cause of his ability to adapt in an environment, rather it is culture that is controlled man and has given him ability to take charge of the world, this makes man greater than all other animals. A working society is one working under the tenets of its culture. Man cannot do with culture as the absence or abuse of culture will destabilize the society.

Chinwe O'Brien is a writer and a blogger. He is currently doing a degree program in English and Literature. He blogs at http://www.bettertim.blogspot.com  He wishes to make the world a better place for all.