View source for Culture theory

{{Short description|Branch of semiotics and anthropology concerning societal norms, behaviors and artifacts}}
{{About|culture|Cultural Theory|Cultural theory of risk}}
{{Distinguish|Cultural studies}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{no footnotes|date=January 2013}}
{{technical|date=March 2018}}
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'''Culture theory''' is the branch of comparative [[anthropology]] and [[semiotics]] that seeks to define the [[heuristic]] concept of [[culture]] in [[operationalism|operational]] and/or [[scientific method|scientific]] terms.

==Overview==
In the 19th century, "[[culture]]" was used by some to refer to a wide array of [[human]] activities, and by some others as a synonym for "[[civilization]]".  In the 20th century, [[Anthropology|anthropologists]] began theorizing about culture as an object of scientific analysis.  Some used it to distinguish human [[Adaptation (biology)|adaptive strategies]] from the largely [[instinct]]ive adaptive strategies of [[animal]]s, including the adaptive strategies of other [[primate]]s and non-human [[Hominidae|hominid]]s, whereas others used it to refer to symbolic [[representation (arts)|representations]] and expressions of human experience, with no direct adaptive value.  Both groups understood culture as being definitive of [[human nature]].

According to many [[theory|theories]] that have gained wide acceptance among anthropologists, culture exhibits the way that humans interpret their [[biology]] and their [[social environment|environment]]. According to this point of view, culture becomes such an integral part of human [[existentialism|existence]] that it ''is'' the human environment, and most cultural [[Social change|change]] can be attributed to human adaptation to [[history|historical events]].  Moreover, given that culture is seen as the primary adaptive mechanism of humans and takes place much faster than [[human evolution|human biological evolution]], most cultural change can be viewed as culture adapting to itself.

Although most anthropologists try to define culture in such a way that it separates human beings from other animals, many human traits are similar to those of other animals, particularly the traits of other primates.  For example, [[Common chimpanzee|chimpanzee]]s have big [[brain]]s, but human brains are bigger.  Similarly, [[bonobo]]s exhibit complex [[non-human animal sexuality|sexual behaviour]], but human beings exhibit much more complex [[human sexuality|sexual behaviours]].  As such, anthropologists often debate whether [[human behaviour]] is different from [[ethology|animal behaviour]] in degree rather than in kind; they must also find ways to distinguish cultural behaviour from sociological behaviour and [[psychological]] behavior.

Acceleration and amplification of these various aspects of culture change have been explored by complexity economist, [https://web.archive.org/web/20110123150543/http://tuvalu.santafe.edu/~wbarthur/Papers/Papers.html W. Brian Arthur]. In his book, ''The Nature of Technology'', Arthur attempts to articulate a [[theory of change]] that considers that existing technologies (or material culture) are combined in unique ways that lead to novel new technologies. Behind that novel combination is a purposeful effort arising in human motivation. This articulation would suggest that we are just beginning to understand what might be required for a more robust theory of culture and culture change, one that brings coherence across many disciplines and reflects an integrating elegance.

==See also==
{{Anthropology}}
* [[Cultural studies]]
* [[Culturology]]
* [[Cultural behavior]]
* [[Culture industry]]
* [[Critical theory]]
* [[Dual inheritance theory]]
* [[Engaged theory]]
* [[Intercultural relations]]
* [[Popular culture studies]]
* [[Semiotics of culture]]
* [[Structuralism]]
* [[Tartu–Moscow Semiotic School]]

==References==
* Groh, Arnold A. ''Theories of Culture''. Routledge, London. 2020.
* Ogburn, William F. ''Social Change''. 1922. Reprint. Dell, New York. 1966.
* Rogers, G.F.C. ''The Nature of the Engineering: A Philosophy of Technology''. Palgrave Macmillan, London, 1983.
* Schumpeter, Joseph. ''The Theory of Economic Development''. 1912. Reprint. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts. 1966. 1934.

{{Culture}}
{{Human geography}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cultural anthropology]]
[[Category:Cultural studies]]
[[Category:Theories]]