我有一根刺 on Nostr: A civilization (also spelled civilisation in British English) is any complex society ...
A civilization (also spelled civilisation in British English) is any complex society characterized by the development of the state, social stratification, urbanization, and symbolic systems of communication beyond signed or spoken languages (namely, writing systems and graphic arts).
Civilizations include features such as agriculture, architecture, infrastructure, technological advancement, currency, taxation, regulation, and specialization of labour.
Historically, a civilization has often been understood as a larger and "more advanced" culture, in implied contrast to smaller, supposedly less advanced cultures.In this broad sense, a civilization contrasts with non-centralized tribal societies, including the cultures of nomadic pastoralists, Neolithic societies, or hunter-gatherers; however, sometimes it also contrasts with the cultures found within civilizations themselves. Civilizations are organized densely-populated settlements divided into hierarchical social classes with a ruling elite and subordinate urban and rural populations, which engage in intensive agriculture, mining, small-scale manufacture and trade. Civilization concentrates power, extending human control over the rest of nature, including over other human beings.
The word civilization relates to the Latin civitas or 'city'. As the National Geographic Society has explained it: "This is why the most basic definition of the word civilization is 'a society made up of cities.'" The earliest emergence of civilizations is generally connected with the final stages of the Neolithic Revolution in West Asia, culminating in the relatively rapid process of urban revolution and state formation, a political development associated with the appearance of a governing elite. [WIKIPEDIA]
The above is Wikipedia's description and explanation of the concept of civilization. In fact, it can be seen that this term encompasses two different meanings.
One is the archaeological sense of civilization. It refers to areas where people live and have a considerable degree of cultural and economic development, with the emergence of cities being the criterion for judgment. This concept merely measures changes in human living environments and does not involve moral judgments or definitions, much like ancient Egyptian civilization, Mesopotamian civilization, etc.
The other meaning of civilization stands in contrast to barbarism. It represents a cultural group that transcends ordinary values and moral standards. This definition of civilization, which is more characteristic of modernity, falls into this category. The definition of civilization should be constantly evolving. Perhaps hundreds of years from now, today's concept of civilization will have new meanings.
How did civilization originate in ancient times? I watched an archaeological documentary once. Archaeologists found a skeleton in the cave where ancient humans lived; one femur bone was fractured but had healed. Everyone then agreed: this was the birth of civilization!
Why would a healed fracture on a femur bone signify the beginning of civilization? Because it shows for the first time that humans moved beyond their own perspective to protect and care for the vulnerable. A human with a broken femur loses almost all ability to move and survive, and healing takes time. In those times, survival depended on others' help—this critical difference between humans and other animals sparked the birth of civilization.
The concept of civilization we discuss today still includes this crucial rule: to protect the vulnerable. Its conceptual renewal does not discard its previous meanings but rather expands upon them, incorporating the tolerance and universal love found in Western mainstream culture based on humanism.
But how should we understand its development? To use an inappropriate analogy: North Korea today, compared to human tribes thousands of years ago, is civilized. However, when compared with modern European countries like the UK and USA, it lacks any trace of civilization. It is a wicked and sinful barbaric state. Similarly,China is also a barbaric nation steeped in sinfulness despite shamelessly claiming itself as an ancient civilized country by hanging 24 sheep heads at this massive dog meat stall. （Cry up wine and sell vinegar.）
Don't think that just because you enjoy the scientific and technological achievements of the civilized world today, dress up like a human being to attend social occasions, enter and leave the country and participate in the activities of a civilized society with the people's wealth that you have seized by trickery, you think that you are a civilized person too. You are still a barbarian, and your thinking, behavior and subconsciousness are still that of a fool who does not know what civilization is.
Some years ago, the Chinese people called those groups of people who became very rich “Tu Hao”, and there is no lack of this group of people to imitate the lifestyle of foreign aristocrats and rich people. But they're more like a bunch of ridiculous idiots. “Three generations to shape a nobleman” this superficial proverb also tells a fact, nobility is more important is the spiritual heritage and cultivation. What kind of spirit is worth passing on, of course, only the ancient Western aristocrats followed the “seven virtues”! And the East only “rich but three generations,” “gentleman's ze, three generations and decline, five generations and chopped,” the vulgar curse. It also proves that this 3,000-year-old sinful country has almost nothing to do with civilization. What they have inherited is killing, plundering, lying, cheating and slavery. The virtues propagated as “loyalty, filial piety, righteousness, integrity and fraternal duty” are mostly false words of face-saving and flattering words to defend the slave masters.
In the face of today's faltering civilization, it is necessary to clarify the true meaning of this seemingly lofty, and indeed lofty, word that is so easily confused. Peel away those complacent and hypocritical morals of the many maggot congregations in China, recognize your own filth and ugliness, recognize the cesspool-like environment of existence, and don't think that you feel like a human being just because you've hung up a few slogans.
Civilizations include features such as agriculture, architecture, infrastructure, technological advancement, currency, taxation, regulation, and specialization of labour.
Historically, a civilization has often been understood as a larger and "more advanced" culture, in implied contrast to smaller, supposedly less advanced cultures.In this broad sense, a civilization contrasts with non-centralized tribal societies, including the cultures of nomadic pastoralists, Neolithic societies, or hunter-gatherers; however, sometimes it also contrasts with the cultures found within civilizations themselves. Civilizations are organized densely-populated settlements divided into hierarchical social classes with a ruling elite and subordinate urban and rural populations, which engage in intensive agriculture, mining, small-scale manufacture and trade. Civilization concentrates power, extending human control over the rest of nature, including over other human beings.
The word civilization relates to the Latin civitas or 'city'. As the National Geographic Society has explained it: "This is why the most basic definition of the word civilization is 'a society made up of cities.'" The earliest emergence of civilizations is generally connected with the final stages of the Neolithic Revolution in West Asia, culminating in the relatively rapid process of urban revolution and state formation, a political development associated with the appearance of a governing elite. [WIKIPEDIA]
The above is Wikipedia's description and explanation of the concept of civilization. In fact, it can be seen that this term encompasses two different meanings.
One is the archaeological sense of civilization. It refers to areas where people live and have a considerable degree of cultural and economic development, with the emergence of cities being the criterion for judgment. This concept merely measures changes in human living environments and does not involve moral judgments or definitions, much like ancient Egyptian civilization, Mesopotamian civilization, etc.
The other meaning of civilization stands in contrast to barbarism. It represents a cultural group that transcends ordinary values and moral standards. This definition of civilization, which is more characteristic of modernity, falls into this category. The definition of civilization should be constantly evolving. Perhaps hundreds of years from now, today's concept of civilization will have new meanings.
How did civilization originate in ancient times? I watched an archaeological documentary once. Archaeologists found a skeleton in the cave where ancient humans lived; one femur bone was fractured but had healed. Everyone then agreed: this was the birth of civilization!
Why would a healed fracture on a femur bone signify the beginning of civilization? Because it shows for the first time that humans moved beyond their own perspective to protect and care for the vulnerable. A human with a broken femur loses almost all ability to move and survive, and healing takes time. In those times, survival depended on others' help—this critical difference between humans and other animals sparked the birth of civilization.
The concept of civilization we discuss today still includes this crucial rule: to protect the vulnerable. Its conceptual renewal does not discard its previous meanings but rather expands upon them, incorporating the tolerance and universal love found in Western mainstream culture based on humanism.
But how should we understand its development? To use an inappropriate analogy: North Korea today, compared to human tribes thousands of years ago, is civilized. However, when compared with modern European countries like the UK and USA, it lacks any trace of civilization. It is a wicked and sinful barbaric state. Similarly,China is also a barbaric nation steeped in sinfulness despite shamelessly claiming itself as an ancient civilized country by hanging 24 sheep heads at this massive dog meat stall. （Cry up wine and sell vinegar.）
Don't think that just because you enjoy the scientific and technological achievements of the civilized world today, dress up like a human being to attend social occasions, enter and leave the country and participate in the activities of a civilized society with the people's wealth that you have seized by trickery, you think that you are a civilized person too. You are still a barbarian, and your thinking, behavior and subconsciousness are still that of a fool who does not know what civilization is.
Some years ago, the Chinese people called those groups of people who became very rich “Tu Hao”, and there is no lack of this group of people to imitate the lifestyle of foreign aristocrats and rich people. But they're more like a bunch of ridiculous idiots. “Three generations to shape a nobleman” this superficial proverb also tells a fact, nobility is more important is the spiritual heritage and cultivation. What kind of spirit is worth passing on, of course, only the ancient Western aristocrats followed the “seven virtues”! And the East only “rich but three generations,” “gentleman's ze, three generations and decline, five generations and chopped,” the vulgar curse. It also proves that this 3,000-year-old sinful country has almost nothing to do with civilization. What they have inherited is killing, plundering, lying, cheating and slavery. The virtues propagated as “loyalty, filial piety, righteousness, integrity and fraternal duty” are mostly false words of face-saving and flattering words to defend the slave masters.
In the face of today's faltering civilization, it is necessary to clarify the true meaning of this seemingly lofty, and indeed lofty, word that is so easily confused. Peel away those complacent and hypocritical morals of the many maggot congregations in China, recognize your own filth and ugliness, recognize the cesspool-like environment of existence, and don't think that you feel like a human being just because you've hung up a few slogans.