CULTURE

MEANING OF CULTURE
As used with an individual. when he has good manners and right conduct, dignified in his ways and in his speech. when he has come down from a family belonging to a nobility or who has inherited a big amount of wealth that he does not need to work to earn a living. A person who has a high intellectual ability of a high level of education and knows about a wide range of subjects . One who has an aesthetic and deep understanding and appreciation of the arts and humanities.

As used with a group. To quote Dressler, "culture is a social heritage, transmitted from one generation to another and shared. It consists of the sum-total of skills, beliefs, knowledge, and products that are commonly shared by a number of people and transmitted to their children.

The American College Dictionary gives the following definition:

Historically, "a particular state or stage of civilization, as in the case of a certain nation or period as Greek culture," and Sociologically, "the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings, which is transmitted from one generation to another."

The Dictionary of Education defines culture as "the aggregate of the social, ethical, intellectual, artistic, governmental, and industrial attainments characteristic of a group, state, or nation and by which it can be distinguished from or compared with other groups, states, or associations, and material objects."

CLASSIFICATION OF CULTURE
According to Dynamism Static. A static culture is one in which the same culture or the same cultural patterns are transmitted from generation to generation. Dynamic. A dynamic culture is one in which the culture of the cultural patters continue to change as they are passed on from one generation to another.

*According to Stability

Stable culture. A stable culture is one in which the culture or cultural patterns are satisfying to the group. If a few revisions or changes are made, these are done peacefully and without much conflict or trouble.
Unstable culture. An unstable culture is one in which many of the people in the group are not satisfied with things are being done. Oftentimes, violent conflicts occur before any changes is made. Unstable cultures are usually those under dictatorial forms of government.

*According to Form or Component

Material culture. Material culture consists of all the tools, equipment, weapons, automobiles and trucks, airplanes, ships, roads and bridges, television, electric lights, clothing, houses and other buildings, and all other tangible objects made, constructed, used, and shared by the people of the group. Particularly important as foundations of education are the school buildings.
Non-material culture. Non-material culture consists of the social, economic, (industrial and commercial), political, educational, medical, and other institutions that a group has established. In addition, there are the ideas, concepts, intellectual development, religious beliefs and practices, customs and traditions, folkways, values, mores, etc. that the group has accumulated through the years. Specific examples of practices are pamahikan, wedding ceremony, the mass, fiesta, birthday party, etc.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE
1.Culture is learned and acquired. 2.Culture is shared and transmitted. 3.Culture is social. Product develops by many people interacting in a group. 4.Culture is ideational . Culture uses ideas and symbols to give meanings to his environment and experiences. 5.Culture gratifies human needs . 6.Culture is adaptive . 7.Culture is cumulative.

Functions of Culture
1.Trademark or special feature that distinguishes one society from another. 2.Brings together, contains and interprets the values of a society in a more or less systematic manner. 3.Provides one of the most important bases for social solidarity. Social Solidarity inspires loyalty and devotion. When the nation has common feelings, common objectives it results to common national pride. 4.Provides a blueprint of, as well as the materials for social structure. 5.The culture of any society is the dominant factor in establishing and molding the social personality. Social stamp is expected despite differences of individuals. 6.Culture of a society provides behavioral pattern. It also provides norm to follow. This explains why student will not come in class wearing her bathing suit. 7.Culture provides individual with the meaning and direction of his existence.

Society
1. Society is a group of people occupying a territory. 2. The people are united in purpose, goals, and objectives. 3. The people share distinct and continuous way of life, a comprehensive culture. 4. The people have something in common, a set of loyalties, sentiments, an esprit de corps. 5. The people are organized in the sense that everyone has a function or role to perform in an orderly manner. 6. The group recruits its members by sexual reproduction and in addition by immigration. 7. A member of the social group may sacrifice himself for the welfare of the group, as for instance, he may die in defense of his group.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CULTURE AND SOCIETY

Culture and society are co-existent. One does not or cannot exist without the other. Culture and society may have some common elements but the two are not the same' they are not identical. The essential difference is that society is composed of people while consists of knowledge, ideas, customs, traditions, folkways, mores, beliefs, skills, institutions, organizations, and artifacts.