Thursday, January 9, 2014

What is a "civilization"?

       Civilization is a movement and not a condition, a voyage and not a harbor.
        - Arnold J. Toynbee

The word "civilization" is a broad term, which is often associated with a group of people that have come together to form an operational society. It encompasses the process and continuation of forming a stable society, community (and urban sectors), government, laws, technological advancements, and culture.

Yet, the term "civilization" often comes with the connotation that one group of people is civilized and another group is not. The difference between the two, I think, is marginal. It is often decided by one group that has more cultural and technological sway in a particular region. This is what makes the term to carry such a broad definition, as it can be interpreted many different ways, depending on which group of people decides the meaning of the word.


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