Ecolog:
I know that I am out standing alone in left field on this one, but like most
crazy people, I'm sticking to my analysis (until persuaded otherwise) and
setting up a picnic to tempt other marginal types:
Humans are social animals. Other animals are social. But only humans are
cultural. From the standpoint of survival of Homo sapiens, those populations
that are more social than cultural (more "primitive" than "modern") are most
likely to survive if the cultural house of cards collapses. Until then, they
may be at greatest risk from the effects of culture. Ironic, eh?
WT
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=culture&searchmode=none
culture
mid-15c., "the tilling of land," from M.Fr. culture and directly from L.
cultura "a cultivating, agriculture," figuratively "care, culture, an
honoring," from pp. stem of colere "tend, guard, cultivate, till" (see
cult). The figurative sense of "cultivation through education" is first
attested c.1500. Meaning "the intellectual side of civilization" is from
1805; that of "collective customs and achievements of a people" is from
1867.
For without culture or holiness, which are always the gift of a very few,
a man may renounce wealth or any other external thing, but he cannot
renounce hatred, envy, jealousy, revenge. Culture is the sanctity of the
intellect. [William Butler Yeats]
Slang culture vulture is from 1947. Culture shock first recorded 1940.
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=cult
cult
1610s, "worship," also "a particular form of worship," from Fr. culte
(17c.), from L. cultus "care, labor; cultivation, culture; worship,
reverence," originally "tended, cultivated," pp. of colere "to till" (see
colony). Rare after 17c.; revived mid-19c. with reference to ancient or
primitive rituals. Meaning "devotion to a person or thing" is from 1829.
Cult. An organized group of people, religious or not, with whom you
disagree. [Rawson]
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=society&searchmode=none
society
1530s, "friendly association with others," from O.Fr. societe, from L.
societatem (nom. societas), from socius "companion" (see social). Meaning
"group of people living together in an ordered community" is from 1630s.
Sense of "fashionable people and their doings" is first recorded 1823.
social (adj.)
c.1500 (implied in socially), "characterized by friendliness or geniality,"
also "allied, associated," from M.Fr. social (14c.), from L. socialis
"united, living with others," from socius "companion," probably originally
"follower," and related to sequi "to follow" (cf. O.E. secg, O.N. seggr
"companion," which seem to have been formed on the same notion; see sequel).
Meaning "living or liking to live with others, disposed to friendly
intercourse" is attested from 1729. Meaning "pertaining to society as a
natural condition of human life" first attested 1695, in Locke. Social
climber is from 1926; social work is 1890; social worker 1904. Social
drink(ing) first attested 1976. Social studies as an inclusive term for
history, geography, economics, etc., is attested from 1938. Social security
"system of state support for needy citizens" is attested from 1908.
----- Original Message -----
From: "James Crants" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 8:31 AM
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems
On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 7:14 PM, malcolm McCallum <
[email protected]> wrote:
I do not really see ANY difference between the variation in human
culture,
and the variation in
social behavior of any other organism.
I do. A difference of degree is still a difference. I think it's
important
not to conflate continuous variation with an absence of variation. This
is,
after all, and ecology forum. If differences in degree are meaningless,
that leaves us with very little to discuss.
And I do think the variation in human culture is greater than the
variation
in the cultures of other species on earth. Given that humans vary in oral
and body language, clothing, housing preferences, agricultural practices,
religion, social graces, music, vehicle design, and countless other
cultural
traits, and that we inhabit nearly every continent and large island on the
planet, I find it close to impossible to believe that any other species on
earth displays such a high degree of cultural variation.
Jim Crants
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