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What is Civilization?

by lorenz on Mar 15, 2005 in Us and Them, persons and theories

Anthropik Network

When asked this question directly, many people answer that a civilization is simply a synonym for "society"--that a civilization is simply a group of people living together. This definition is betrayed when you press the point with borderline examples. Are you comfortable with the phrase "Inuit Civilization"? Or "!Kung Civilization?" Or "Australian Aborigine Civilization"? Most people are not. There is no doubt as to whether the Inuit, !Kung or Aborigines constitute societies, but we waver on the question of their civilization. Obviously, then, the two words are not the synonyms some would claim. >> continue

Read also the most recent entry The Meaning of Civilization

This entry was posted by admin and filed under Us and Them, persons and theories.
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