Understanding Culture: Anthropological and Pedagogical Perspectives
The Anthropological Concept of Culture
In the nineteenth century, anthropologists developed a new concept of culture that considered elements beyond traditional cultural theories. This concept encompasses technical skills, production instructions, and the symbolic social whole that individuals learn within a society. Culture is linked to learning and social life. Therefore, culture is not innate, as it is learned, nor is it individual, as it is transmitted over time.
The Simpsons’ definition of culture is the set of behaviors acquired by a group of individuals united by common traditions, transmitted through education.
Ethnocentrism, Cultural Relativism, and Universalism
Ethnocentrism is the attitude that one’s own culture is more rational, natural, and superior to others. Cultural relativism, on the other hand, believes that all cultures are equal, with no superior or inferior cultures, and that each culture has its own respectable value. Universalism is a blend of the two, suggesting that there are common characteristics among all cultures, such as the pursuit of happiness or the avoidance of suffering.
Main features of culture:
- Culture is learned, not genetically inherited, but transmitted through socialization agents.
- Culture transforms the natural world into a world full of artificial meanings.
- Culture is adaptive, providing tools to adapt to the environment quickly and effectively.
- Culture is characterized by its flexibility and infinite capacity for mutation.
- Culture is polymorphic, encompassing an incredible variety of human ways of inhabiting the world.
What does the synthetic theory of evolution say? Darwin could not explain the source of variability within a species or the mechanism for transmitting these characteristics. The synthetic theory, also known as neo-Darwinism or evolution, provides the answer with the discovery of DNA structure and the introduction of the concept of mutation. Evolution is essentially the result of the interaction between mutation and natural selection. Because many mutations are random, evolution can be seen as a product of chance, while natural selection preserves favorable mutations, making evolution a deterministic process.
Relationship between the main features of human evolution: The set of anatomical and physiological changes that allowed the gradual evolution of early hominids to Homo sapiens is known as hominization. Parallel to these biological changes, major changes occurred in early human psychological, behavioral, and social aspects. This progressive acquisition of skills and abilities is referred to as humanization. These are two interdependent processes that influence each other. Without hominization, humanization is not possible. Without humanization, hominization would be nothing more than bipedal primates; it is the leap that takes us from biology to culture.
The Pedagogical Concept of Culture
The etymology of culture comes from the Latin cultura, derived from the verb colere (to cultivate). Originally, the term applied to the cultivation of fields and was not so different from agriculture. In the 17th century, the term began to be applied to the human being. Metaphorically speaking, culture encourages the cultivation of the spirit and is compared to the knowledge of the field. Thus, a person who possesses knowledge is considered cultured. The concept of culture as knowledge linked to academic knowledge of the classics was born. Later, during the Enlightenment, the idea that culture is a right that everyone should have was extended, made effective through education.