The Evolution of the Concept of Culture in Anthropology
**The Evolution of the Concept of Culture in Anthropology**
**Introduction**
The modern meaning of”cultur” originates from the Latin word”cultura” which initially referred solely to the act of farming. However, the term’s metaphorical use, such as”cultivating the spirit” gradually shifted its meaning away from its agricultural roots.
**The Emergence of the Concept**
In the 18th century, the”Dictionary of Authoritie” defined culture as”the care and implementation to improv” or”teaching for understanding a young man” This metaphorical usage further distanced the term from its original sense.
Paradoxically, the concept of”natur” emerged as the primary antagonist of”culture” with their opposition serving as a cornerstone for defining culture.
**The 19th Century: A Proliferation of Meanings**
Three centuries later, the concept of culture became central to many sciences, serving as a foundation for their methodologies and unifying diverse fields through a common language. The term gained prominence in the 19th century, as evidenced by the proliferation of new words and expressions related to culture, such as”mass culture””traditional culture” and”cultural heritage”
**The Enlightenment and the Birth of Modernity**
This significant shift in the meaning of culture occurred during the Enlightenment, a period of intellectual optimism and progress. Various authors have proposed different starting points for the concept, but it emerged as a product of enlightened modernity, opening up new avenues for theoretical reflection.
**Culture as Social Heritage**
The Enlightenment led to the realization that culture is the essential feature of human social existence. It enables the transmission of”social heritag” to future generations. Prior to this, the concept of culture was more ambiguous, but its universality was now recognized.
**Anthropological Perspectives on Culture**
In the field of anthropology, E.B. Tylor (1871) provided the first formal definition:”that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society” This definition reflected a cumulative and universalist view, suggesting that societies shared a common culture.
In contrast, Franz Boas emphasized”historical particularism” defining culture as”the distinct set of customs, beliefs and social institutions that seem to characterize every society in isolation”
Later, Bronisław Malinowski and A.R. Radcliffe-Brown introduced structuralism and functionalism, viewing culture as”the study of the role that each trait and cultural complex play within the social system, and the relationships between functions and the general laws that explain how”
Claude Lévi-Strauss focused on the”unconscious level of culture and the analogy between culture and language” seeking to uncover the mental structures underlying human behavior.
Finally, Ruth Benedict and Margaret Mead explored”culture and personality” studying the personality traits shared by members of a particular society and the influence of early life experiences on these traits, bridging anthropology and psychology.
**Conclusions**
According to anthropological thought, culture is not inherited genetically but rather generated by the social groups in which individuals live. It is the most ingenious human phenomenon, allowing us to preserve past knowledge and shape future generations, completing the process of humanization.
Culture is a social fact, formed through accumulation and selection processes, and transmitted through external social mechanisms. Two primary approaches to culture exist:
- Evolutionist: Views culture as a continuous, cumulative process (e.g., Tylor).
- Historical: Emphasizes cultures as unique entities expressing the specific characteristics of human communities (e.g., Boas).
The concept of culture encompasses a vast field, including:
- Taylor’s broad definition
- Goodenough’s description of cultural features
- White’s open list
Culture is also inextricably linked to values, involving elements of attraction and rejection, preferences, and evolutionary dimensions. According to Malinowski and Gillin, these values are tied to human needs and experiences.