什麼是文化

人類知識、信仰與行為的統合形態，包括語文、意識形態、信仰、習俗、禁忌、法規、制度、工具、技術、藝術品、禮儀、儀式及其他相關成分，其發展依人類學習知識及向後代傳授之能力而定。文化在人類演化中扮演着決定性的角色，它讓人類可以依據自己的目的去適應環境，而不單只是依靠自然選擇來完成其適應性。每一個人類社會，都有其特別的文化或社會文化體系，個人的態度、價值、理想與信仰等，受其生活於其中的社會文化影響很大。各文化間的差異與生存環境及資源，語言、禮儀和風俗習慣等活動領域所固有的可行性範圍，工具的製造和使用，以及社會發展程度等，都有很大的關係。文化常會因生態、社會經濟、政治、宗教或其他足以影響一個社會的重大變革而發生變遷。參閲culture contact、primitive culture、sociocultural evolution。

culture

Integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that is both a result of and integral to humankind's capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations. Culture thus consists of language, ideas, beliefs, customs, taboos, codes, institutions, tools, techniques, works of art, rituals, ceremonies, and symbols. It has played a crucial role in human evolution, allowing human beings to adapt the environment to their own purposes rather than depend solely on natural selection to achieve adaptive success. Every human society has its own particular culture, or sociocultural system. Variation among cultures is attributable to such factors as differing physical habitats and resources; the range of possibilities inherent in areas such as language, ritual, and social organization; and historical phenomena such as the development of links to other cultures. An individual's attitudes, values, ideals, and beliefs are greatly influenced by the culture (or cultures) in which he or she lives. Culture change takes place as a result of ecological, socioeconomic, political, religious, or other fundamental changes affecting a society. See also culture contact, primitive culture, sociocultural evolution.