Who defined culture as ‘that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society’ ?

The correct answer is - E. B. Tylor

Key Points

• E. B. Tylor
  • Edward Burnett Tylor (1832–1917) was an English anthropologist often regarded as the founder of cultural anthropology.
  • He defined culture as "that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society" in his work Primitive Culture published in 1871.
  • This definition highlights that culture is not innate but rather learned and acquired through societal membership and interaction.
  • Tylor's work laid the foundation for the modern understanding of culture as a holistic concept encompassing both material and non-material aspects of human life.

Additional Information

• Other Thinkers and Their Contributions
  • Robert Bierstedt
    • An American sociologist who focused on the theoretical aspects of sociology.
    • He is known for analyzing social stratification, authority, and sociology's relationship with other disciplines.
  • B. Malinowski
    • A Polish anthropologist and ethnographer considered a pioneer of modern social anthropology.
    • He emphasized the importance of fieldwork and developed the functionalist approach, which studies how cultural practices serve societal needs.
  • Graham Wallas
    • A British socialist, author, and educator known for his contributions to political science and psychology.
    • He emphasized the role of human psychology in political behavior and decision-making.
• Importance of Tylor's Definition
  • Tylor's definition remains one of the earliest and most comprehensive explanations of culture in anthropology.
  • It underscores the idea that culture is a universal human phenomenon, encompassing all learned and shared behaviors, beliefs, and artifacts.
  • This perspective has influenced subsequent anthropological theories and definitions of culture.