Culture and Civilisation Revised

Name: Ako Naa Atswei Mildred
Index No: 10847340

Course: History 111. Earliest Civilisation
Lecturer: Mr. Adamu Sadat Bole
Date: 9th October, 2019
How are civilizations different from cultures? Discuss.
The distinction between culture and civilization is not well embedded in the English
language but has remained relatively meaningful in both other European and non-European
languages (Botz-Bornstein, 2012). Edward B. Tylor designed an idea of civilization that
covers both culture and civilization. Though it is sometimes stated that Tylor’s relativist
concept of culture harks back to Herder, the latter’s cultural relativism differs from Tylor’s
civilizational relativism. Tylor’s holistic definition of civilization-culture has created an
amount of confusion that can still be felt today. According to Botz-Bornstein, in the English-
speaking world, a century-old confusing play of name switching and revisions has made the
distinction between culture and civilization difficult. The fogginess of the distinction has
been reinforced when powerful streams of English-speaking anthropologists suggested that
both concepts are identical.
“Culture” (from Latin cultus) is the older term and corresponds to the Latin form also
in its content; the term civilization (from Latin civis) was coined later, in 18th Century France
and later also in England. However, German scholars preferred culture, with its complexity of
meanings. One can draw a more or less distinctive line between civilization and culture by
stating that the former refers more to material, technical, economic, and social facts while the
latter refers to spiritual, intellectual and artistic phenomena. The German usage of Zivilisation
has always alluded to a utilitarian, outer aspect of human existence subordinated to Kultur,
which was perceived as the “real” essence of humans, society, and their achievements (Botz-
Bornstein, 2012).
The term ‘culture’ is a Latin origin of the word ‘cultus’, which refers to cultivating or
refining something, in such a way that it provides admiration and respect (Surbhi, 2018). In
finer terms, culture is the way people live, reflected in the language they spoke, food they eat,
clothes they wear and the Diety they follow or worship. It expresses the manner in which one
thinks and do things.
In other words, culture is the set of knowledge, experiences and behaviours which is
commonly shared by a group of people. It is something that a person gains through learning.
Culture includes art, knowledge, belief, customs, traditions, morals, festivals, values,
attitudes, habits and so on which are inherited by a person as a member of society. It is
everything; an individual achieves as a member of a social group. It can be seen in the
literature, music, dance forms, religious practices, dressing style, food habits, ways of
greeting others, recreation and enjoyment. Different cultures can be found in different places,
as it varies from region to region.
Civilization, on the other hand, is described as a process of civilizing or developing
the state of human society, to the extent that the culture, industry, technology, government,
etc. reaches the maximum level (Surbhi, 2018). As already indicated, it is a term derived
from a Latin term ‘civis’ which indicates ‘someone who resides in a town’.
The term ‘civilization’ is not confined to town; rather it talks about adopting better
ways of living, and making best possible use of nature’s resources, so as to satisfy the needs
of the group of people. Further, it stresses on systematising society into various groups that
work collectively and constantly to improve the quality of life, regarding food, education,
dress, communication, transportation, and the likes.
As already explained, while there seems to be a convergence at some point during the
evolution of these two terminologies, and in some instances, the two terms are used
interchangeably, they in fact represent different societal phenomenon. According to Surbhi,

2018, the following points are noteworthy, so far as the difference between culture and
civilization is concerned:
 The term ‘culture’ refers to the embodiment of the manner in which we think,
behave and act. On the contrary, the improved stage of human society, where
members have the considerable amount of social and political organisation and
development, is called Civilization.
 Our culture describes what we are, but our civilization explains what we have or
what we make use of.
 Culture is an end; it has no measurement standards. As against this, civilization has
precise measurement standards, because it is a means.
 The culture of a particular region can be reflected in religion, art, dance, literature,
customs, morals, music, philosophy, etc. On the other hand, the civilization is
exhibited in the law, administration, infrastructure, architecture, social arrangement,
etc. of that area.
 Culture denote the greatest level of inner refinement, and so it is internal. Unlike,
civilization which is external, i.e. it is the expression of state of the art technology,
product, devices, infrastructure and so forth.
 Change in culture is observed with time, as in the old thoughts and traditions lost
with the passage of time and new ones are added to it which are then transmitted
from one generation to another. On the flip side, civilization is continuously
advancing, i.e. the various elements of civilization like means of transportation,
communication, etc. are developing day by day.
 Culture can evolve and flourish, even if the civilization does not exist. In contrast,
civilization cannot grow and exist without culture.

In conclusion, I cannot but agree with the position of Botz-Bornstein, 2012 that the
distinction between civilization and culture has been subjected to various attacks for many
years. Most of the time, neither the understanding of culture nor of civilization could lead to a
better understanding of the other. In the contemporary world, culture and civilization are in
conflict; a conflict emanating from a political standpoint as opposed to a religious standpoint.
However, as the historical development of culture and civilization has shown, there is no
culture without civilization.
References
Velkley, Richard L (2002). "The Tension in the Beautiful: On Culture and
Civilization in Rousseau and German Philosophy". Being after Rousseau: philosophy and
culture in question. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 11–30. ISBN 978-0-226-
85256-0. OCLC 47930775
Present Day of Civilization” in Philosophy and Opinions Vol. 1, p. 31 quoted from
Moses, Wilson Jeremiah. 2004. Creative Conflict in African American Thought: Frederick
Douglass, Alexander Crummell, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Marcus
Garvey. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 269.
Botz-Bornstein, Thorsten (2012) "What is the Difference Between Culture and
Civilization?: Two Hundred Fifty Years of Confusion," Comparative Civilizations Review:
Vol. 66 : No. 66 , Article 4. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/ccr/vol66/iss66/4

Culture and Civilisation Revised

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Culture and Civilisation Revised

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Name: Ako Naa Atswei Mildred

Index No: 10847340

How are civilizations different from cultures? Discuss.

languages (Botz-Bornstein, 2012). Edward B. Tylor designed an idea of civilization that

civilizational relativism. Tylor’s holistic definition of civilization-culture has created an

been reinforced when powerful streams of English-speaking anthropologists suggested that

both concepts are identical.

thinks and do things.

attitudes, habits and so on which are inherited by a person as a member of society. It is

everything; an individual achieves as a member of a social group. It can be seen in the

as it varies from region to region.

Civilization, on the other hand, is described as a process of civilizing or developing

from a Latin term ‘civis’ which indicates ‘someone who resides in a town’.

dress, communication, transportation, and the likes.

interchangeably, they in fact represent different societal phenomenon. According to Surbhi,

development, is called Civilization.

what we make use of.

 Culture is an end; it has no measurement standards. As against this, civilization has

precise measurement standards, because it is a means.

exhibited in the law, administration, infrastructure, architecture, social arrangement,

etc. of that area.

product, devices, infrastructure and so forth.

from one generation to another. On the flip side, civilization is continuously

advancing, i.e. the various elements of civilization like means of transportation,

communication, etc. are developing day by day.

civilization cannot grow and exist without culture.

conflict; a conflict emanating from a political standpoint as opposed to a religious standpoint.

culture without civilization.

Velkley, Richard L (2002). "The Tension in the Beautiful: On Culture and

culture in question. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 11–30. ISBN 978-0-226-

Present Day of Civilization” in Philosophy and Opinions Vol. 1, p. 31 quoted from

Douglass, Alexander Crummell, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Marcus

Garvey. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 269.

Botz-Bornstein, Thorsten (2012) "What is the Difference Between Culture and

Civilization?: Two Hundred Fifty Years of Confusion," Comparative Civilizations Review:

Vol. 66 : No. 66 , Article 4. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/ccr/vol66/iss66/4

You might also like