![]() To say that birds build nests and beavers their dens is to miss the point. Monkeys have never devised a spoken language, written a book, composed a melody, built a house, paved a road, or painted a portrait. A monkey may use a stick to knock a banana from a tree, but that stick will never, through a monkey’s ingenuity, be modified into a pruning hook or a ladder. It is the concept of humans as toolmakers and improvers that differentiates them from other animals. It took thousands of years to get from the first wheel to the latest, most advanced model of automobile. But more important than their simple existence is that the tools are always being improved and enlarged upon, a result of creativity. One of the basic and best-known features of civilization and culture is the presence of tools. Culture has grown out of creativity, a characteristic that seems to be unique to human beings. In its modern use the word culture refers to all the positive aspects and achievements of humanity that make humankind different from the rest of the animal world. One may cultivate a garden one may also cultivate one’s interests, mind, and abilities. But most of its definitions suggest a process of starting and promoting growth and development. It may, like civis, mean inhabiting a town or village. But colere also has a wider range of meanings. ![]() ![]() The word culture is derived from the Latin verb colere, “to till the soil” (its past participle is cultus, associated with cultivate). So, civilization is inseparable from culture. But there is more to civilization, and that is what culture brings to it. They live and work together in social groups. From this definition it would seem that certain insects, such as ants or bees, are also civilized. The word civilization is based on the Latin civis, “inhabitant of a city.” Thus civilization, in its most essential meaning, is the ability of people to live together harmoniously in cities, in social groupings. There has been a strong tendency to use them interchangeably as though they mean the same thing, but they are not the same.Īlthough modern in their usage, the two words are derived from ancient Latin. Some Basic Meaningsīoth civilization and culture are fairly modern words, having come into prominent use during the 19th century by anthropologists, historians, and literary figures. Since this is not possible, it is necessary to explain these terms by the use of definitions and descriptions. A thorough understanding of what civilization and culture are requires a knowledge of all the qualities that make up human nature and a full understanding of all historical developments. ![]() These are what have made possible civilization, as well as culture, its constant and necessary companion. It is a triumph of mind over matter, of reason over instinct, and of the distinctly human over humankind’s animal nature. ![]()
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