This time, I would like to consider
what constitutes the concept of so-
called "culture". As Dr.Armstrong
hinted in today's class, it may be
useful to compare the concept with
related ones―race, tribe―to get
clear idea of what is the definition
of "culture".
First, I will approach the concept
by comparing it with the term "race".
Obviously, this two seemingly similar
concepts has at least one strikingly
distinctive fuature, conducive to dif-
ferentiate each other, that is,which
race we fall under is genetically de-
termined,whereas which culture we be-
long to is relatively at will. In short,
we may consider culture as having in-
herent element and rase as having ac-
quired element. Of course, this contrast
is too simplified, but just for argument's
sake.
Second, I think we can make what consti-
tutes"culture" still more clear by casting
light on it relative to the term "tribe".
Maybe it's useful adding one more new con-
cept "civilization"here. At one side is
"civilization",and the other side is "tribe",
and between these two extremes is "culture".
Civilization must have universal element,which
enables permeation of it into any soils, while
tribe and its soil are in an inseparable
relationship and therefore the concept "tribe"
cannot exist without its soil, so transplantation
of it from one soil to another is almost impossible.
To sum up, these three concepts are all on the "
universal/native"spectrum and comperable concepts.
