Culture and society; two abstract and immaterial words, which we use in our everyday life to describe, who we are and how we live. But are we truly aware of what we sometimes say? Is there really something what we can call a scandal culture? Can something be wrong with society? What makes a society civilised? How does a culture change? How can we contribute to society? What makes a multi-cultural society multi-cultural and what has society actually to do with culture?
Sir Edward Burnett Tylor described culture 1871 as "…that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society…"(Taylor 1871:1). Culture would be the foundation to the whole way of life of a society. Lifestyle would include religion, legal systems, language, values and principles. But does Sir Edward Burnett Taylor’s description of culture apply in the globalised world we’re living in today? Is everyone who shares the same belief, part of the same society? Can we speak different languages within one culture?
Table of Contents
1. In a modern multi-culture society
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this work is to explore the conceptual relationship between "culture" and "society" within the context of a modern, globalized, and multicultural environment. It examines whether classical definitions of these terms remain applicable today, or if they must be re-evaluated to account for shared meanings, symbolic systems, and social interactions in diverse populations like that of Darwin.
- Analysis of classical definitions of culture (e.g., Tylor, Geertz, Hall).
- Examination of the structural concept of society and collective human groups.
- The role of language and symbolic systems in creating shared meaning.
- Understanding the dynamics of multiculturalism in a globalized world.
Excerpt from the Book
In a modern multi-culture society
Sir Edward Burnett Tylor described culture 1871 as "...that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society..."(Taylor 1871:1). Culture would be the foundation to the whole way of life of a society. Lifestyle would include religion, legal systems, language, values and principles. But does Sir Edward Burnett Taylor’s description of culture apply in the globalised world we’re living in today? Is everyone who shares the same belief, part of the same society? Can we speak different languages within one culture?
The Oxford Dictionary defined society as “ 1. … the aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community … 2. An organization or club formed for a particular purpose or activity … 3. The situation of being in the company of other people …” (Oxford Dictionary 2004:1353).
When we are talking about Society we are talking about something that accentuated the social level as a certain condition (Pries 1998:64). The notion society identifies human groups, who are sharing language, principles, norms, experience and interaction and are enfolded by organisations and institutions. People living in Darwin are part of the Darwin’s society as they are living in a particular area and are having shared customs and laws.
Summary of Chapters
1. In a modern multi-culture society: This chapter introduces the core conceptual tension between culture and society by contrasting classical definitions with contemporary globalized realities, using Darwin as a practical example of a multicultural entity.
Keywords
Culture, Society, Multiculturalism, Symbolism, Shared Meaning, Globalization, Human Groups, Social Interaction, Language, Symbolic Systems, Interpretation, Identity, Darwin, Institutions, Norms
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this work?
The paper fundamentally explores the definitions of "culture" and "society" and how these abstract concepts function and interact within a modern, multicultural societal framework.
What are the central thematic areas?
The work centers on the evolution of cultural theory, the sociological definition of human groups, the importance of symbolic systems in communication, and the nature of shared identity in diverse communities.
What is the primary research question?
The primary inquiry is whether traditional, holistic definitions of culture and society—such as those proposed by Tylor—remain valid in a modern, globalized world, or if they require reinterpretation based on shared symbolic meaning.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The work utilizes a theoretical and analytical literature review, contrasting historical definitions from anthropologists and sociologists like Tylor, Geertz, Hall, and Pries with modern societal observations.
What is covered in the main body?
The main body examines the evolution of cultural definitions, the semiotic approach to meaning-making, the role of symbolic systems in language, and how societies are defined by shared laws, interests, and silent agreements.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Culture, Society, Multiculturalism, Symbolism, Shared Meaning, Globalization, and Social Interaction.
How does the author define the relationship between symbols and culture?
The author argues, following Geertz and Hall, that culture is a semiotic system of symbols where meaning is historically shared and collectively decoded by a group, rather than just a collection of acquired habits.
How does the case of Darwin serve the analysis?
Darwin acts as a practical case study for a modern society where diverse nationalities and symbolic systems coexist under a common legal framework, illustrating that society can unite people who hold different internal beliefs.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Rosa Grieser (Autor:in), 2012, A modern multi-culture society, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/212408
