Why do cultures exist?

Why do cultures exist?

The word culture is one term that is highly associated with various definitions and meanings. Regardless of its many descriptions, there are three established meanings for such word. For one, culture is defined as the excellence of taste in the field of arts and humanities. The most common definition, however, is that culture is one integrated pattern of behavior, beliefs and practices that have long existed in a certain territory, location or nation. Similarly, culture is also closely defined as the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group. Originally coming from the Latin word, cultura, which was stemmed from the word colere, the word itself simply means to cultivate. Even in the early years of the 18th century, the word was used to connote a process of cultivation or improvement. As the world evolved, the concept of culture evolved as well. Today, culture has widely encompassed all human phenomena that is not solely based on the genetic makeup of man.

As culture exists in almost all aspects, many people have questioned the reason for its existence. One basic reason for culture’s existence is its highly influential function. It is a fact that cultures affect the entity of one human being. It has the power to mold and contribute to the kind of person and character that every individual develops to be. More so, cultures have become a part and parcel of every institution, nation and organization. Its existence is of great importance because it is within one’s culture that the general behavior and character of a country or organization can be seen and understood. It is within one’s culture that one is able to develop, grow and improve, may it be an individual, organization or one big nation.