What is the definition of a civilization? What are the characteristics of civilized countries?
At first I thought I could rattle off the answers. Then..... When you stop to really think about things, it is never as simple as you originally think. Sometimes definitions can really be from a perspective. What does it mean to be civilized?
The most common answers involve developing tools and progressing in the areas of science, math, and the arts. But is that all a civilized culture is? They have to achieve great things that last for centuries? Or does it go much deeper than that?
History can define a civilization as one that has created a sense of unity among its members, create forms of art, and had a developed sense of government. Many others might show development in humanitarian efforts and agricultural areas. But in today's world does that still fit the definition of a civilization?
That is something to be considered. We sometimes call people civilized or uncivilized. These same people fit the definition of civilization, yet we might call them "uncivilized". Does having a government, art, and a structured society mean that the civilization is civilized or are they in reality the barbarians that they condemn?
A civilization is a group of people with a common purpose and goal. Does that mean the countries of today are not civilized civilizations?
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