The relation between nature and culture reminds me of the mouse and the elephant walking side by side over a wooden bridge. Above the noise, the mouse shouts: "Hay, listen to us stamping together!" At the dawn of an undoubtedly Darwinian millennium, there are still those who claim that human behavior is mainly or entirely cultural. I see this exclusive focus like the mouse with delusions of grandeur walking next to human nature, the elephant who sets the tone of everything we do and are.
My own definition of culture reflects this broader view:
"Culture is a way of life shared by the members of one group but not necessarily with the members of other groups of the same species. It covers knowledge, habits and skills, including underlying tendencies and preferences, derived from exposure to and learning from others. Whenever systematic variation is knowledge, habits, and skills, including underlying tendencies and preferences, derived from exposure to any learning from others. Whenever systematic variation in knowledge, habits, and skills between groups cannot be attributed to genetic or ecological factors, it is probably cultural. The way individuals learn from each other is secondary, but that they learn from each other is requirement. Thus, the "culture" label does not apply to knowledge, habits, or skills that individuals readily acquire on their own. ~ Frans De Wall
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Dinesh said:
My own definition of culture reflects this broader view:
"Culture is a way of life shared by the members of one group but not necessarily with the members of other groups of the same species. It covers knowledge, habits and skills, including underlying tendencies and preferences, derived from exposure to and learning from others. Whenever systematic variation is knowledge, habits, and skills, including underlying tendencies and preferences, derived from exposure to any learning from others. Whenever systematic variation in knowledge, habits, and skills between groups cannot be attributed to genetic or ecological factors, it is probably cultural. The way individuals learn from each other is secondary, but that they learn from each other is requirement. Thus, the "culture" label does not apply to knowledge, habits, or skills that individuals readily acquire on their own. ~ Frans De Wall