What makes a culture civilized?

Answer 1

A civilization is usually understood to be a complex society characterized by the practice of agriculture and settlement in cities. However there is debate as to what constitutes civilisation.

The degree to which a culture can be considered 'civilized' depends only to the degree that it maintains the following values, both through positive moral education and encouragement, and also through punishments for infractions.

1. Justice : A clear set of agreed upon and impartialy enforced rules for behavior, which reward good acts and punish bad acts. Protection of individuals against the state, including an option of trial by jury and free and honest legal representation, among other things.

2. Integrity : Rules which ensure honestly and plain dealing. Theft, embezzlement, corruption are all punished. Systems are produced to catch and punish acts of dishonesty at the earliest possible moment.

3. Humanity : Rules which ensure that individuals do not exploit or dominate each other. These rules include - rules against usury, exploitation of labor, abuse or exploitation of family members, including forced marriages. Rules which protect the environment and the consumer.

4. Tolerance : Freedom of conscience, including the right to join or to leave any religious group or faith, freedom to associate with others in whatever manner one chooses (provided this does not infringe on others' rights).

5. Property : People have an inviolate right to whatever property that lawfully comes into their position (according to the rules above).

In today's world, no culture fully meets this ideal, but some (modern Western Cultures) are far closer to it than others (e.g. Muslim, Latin, and Asian societies). The western cultures, moreover, have taken much greater steps on their own initiative to grow in civilization, while others either have not changed at all or only changed due to the correct and moral pressure of the West.