Question

Compare these definitions to see which of these (or combination of these) you find most satisfactory. You could do this by listing familiar uses of the word ‘culture’ (the culture of eighteenth century Lucknow, the culture of hospitality or the much used term ‘Western culture’...). Which of the definitions best captures the impressions conveyed by each?

Answer 1

Based on the prompt in activity, evaluating the familiar uses of the word “culture” reveals that different phrases invoke entirely different sociological definitions. 

Here is a sociological breakdown of how these specific uses align with different definitions of culture:

• “The culture of eighteenth century Lucknow”: This phrase uses culture in an aesthetic and historical sense. It evokes a specific epoch characterized by refined arts, poetry, courtly etiquette (Tehzeeb), and architecture. This usage aligns with the definition of culture as the intellectual and artistic achievements or the “refined way of life” of a specific group at a specific time. 
• “The culture of hospitality”: This phrase uses culture in a normative and behavioral sense. It refers not to art or history, but to a shared set of values, unspoken rules, and social expectations regarding how guests should be treated (such as the Indian ethos of Atithi Devo Bhava). This aligns best with the functional definition of culture as the shared norms, values, and customs that regulate everyday human behavior and social interaction.
• “Western culture”: This phrase uses culture in a holistic and anthropological sense. It is a macro-level categorization that lumps together a vast array of societies based on broad shared traits—such as individualism, secularism, capitalist economic structures, and democratic political ideologies. This aligns perfectly with Edward B. Tylor’s foundational sociological definition of culture 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.” 

The Most Satisfactory Approach: No single definition captures all these impressions. The most satisfactory understanding of culture is a composite definition: Culture is a complex, acquired whole (like “Western culture”) that simultaneously dictates specific moral behaviors (like a “culture of hospitality”) and serves as the repository for a society’s highest aesthetic and historical achievements (like the “culture of eighteenth century Lucknow”).