The world does not stand still and is developing. However, at all times, there were certain limits and restrictions that a person simply must observe. That is why now I want to understand what it means to be a cultural and civilized person.
A little bit about terminology
As you know, you need to begin to understand the issue by defining the basic terms. What is the difference, or is there still a commonality of the concepts of "civilized" and "cultural" people? It should be noted that there are several versions.
- The terms "civilization" and "culture" are considered as synonyms, inseparable concepts from each other. In this context, civilization is determined by the level of development of society, its cultural traditions.
- The terms "culture" and "civilization" are opposing to each other. Immanuel Kant liked to talk about this . So, according to his opinion, culture is something moral, that which is inherent in a person. And civilization requires from a person only external compliance with generally accepted human rules of coexistence in society.
- O. Spengler’s opinion about culture and civilization is very interesting . So, he considers culture as something cyclical. And when the cultural development of society reaches its peak, that is, civilization, degradation and extinction occur. And culture is changing.
- N.A. Berdyaev argued that culture is something individual, special, inherent in a certain group of people. But civilization is a ubiquitous and most common phenomenon that can be repeated in many societies.
That is, we can conclude that these terms are precisely interconnected with each other, regardless of the theory that considers them.
About people
A similar situation arises in the event that you need to understand what it means to be a cultural and civilized person. Again, since there is no consensus on these terms, it is very difficult to determine the designation of a cultural or civilized person. Much depends on the society in which the individual is integrated. That is, in one social group some actions and statements can be normal, while in another they are completely unacceptable. This, by the way, is often found when comparing the level of culture of developed countries and African wild tribes.
Human culture
But still: what does it mean to be a cultural and civilized person in ordinary European society? This means adhering to those norms and rules that were previously adopted. By the way, some may go into oblivion, others may arise. For example, today no one greets, lifting his hat. But, having seen a familiar person, you need to remove the headphones from your ears to say hello.
It should also be noted that the concept of “human culture” is closely related to the term “educated person”. That is, a person must be spiritually rich. These are well-read people who are trying to develop and learn, regardless of place of work, social affiliation or the availability of higher education. A person may not have a university dilome, but be rich spiritually.
Examples of cultural people
If a group of people is asked the question “what does it mean to be a cultural and civilized person?”, In response you can hear a lot of different opinions. For one, a cultured person is one who does not litter on the street. The other puts forward broader and deeper demands on the individual. But still, you can try to highlight and consider examples of cultural and civilized people.
- These people are polite, they respect even strangers.
- A cultured person should also be moderately erudite.
- Continuous learning and learning something new is a hallmark of a cultured person.
- A cultured person adheres to the rules of cohabitation in society. That is, it does not litter on the streets, maintains order at home and in his native city.
An uncultured person is called one who does not comply with these rules and is an asocial person.