Defining Culture and Politics

Hi guys!

Welcome to our latest discussion, where we dive deep into the foundational definitions of culture and politics! Join us as we explore how different thinkers have defined these complex concepts that shape our world. We'll discuss E.B. Tylor’s classic definition of culture as a “complex whole” of human knowledge, belief, and custom, alongside Clifford Geertz’s view of culture as the “fabric of meaning” that guides human action.

Shifting gears to politics, we’ll break down various interpretations—from Aristotle's idea of politics as the “science of the good for man” to David Easton’s view of it as the “authoritative allocation of values.” We'll ask questions like: How do these definitions help us understand power and governance? How do they overlap or diverge when considering real-world contexts?