by Mark Waybill

Created on: November 23, 2009   Last Updated: November 25, 2009

In attempting to define what is meant by the term civilization one must first try to understand what the common definition is, what the classical or correct definition of the word is, and what the absolute definition should be. The first general definition of 'civilized' from various sources seems to be a lack of savagery, and a possession of self command, politeness and respect to others. But this definition refers only to social manners and is relative. The other definition is related to socio-technological progress, such as architecture or living standards. Thus civilization is a combination of an advanced society and infrastructure with an advanced life form dominating it. Of course advanced is a relative term.

The correct meanings of the term civilization according to the Free Online Dictionary are; an advanced state of intellectual, cultural, and material development in human society, marked by progress in the arts and sciences, the extensive use of record-keeping, including writing, and the appearance of complex political and social institutions;
the type of culture and society developed by a particular nation or region or in a particular epoch: Mayan civilization; the civilization of ancient Rome; the act or process of civilizing or reaching a civilized state; cultural or intellectual refinement; good taste; modern society with its conveniences.

(Source:http://www.thefreedictionary.com/civilizatio n)

Thus one can see that even the correct definitions are relative to the position of the observer. For instance, a farmer is civilized by this definition compared with a dog or cat, but a businessman is civilized compared with a farmer. Is there a definition that does not rely upon being relative? One could go about making one based upon a critical point method, that is by placing a point on the single dimensional array of possibilities for a society that defines the area to the right as being civilized and that to the left as being uncivilized, but this would be biased by the placer's opinion and knowledge unless a consensus could be reached by suitable individuals.

Thus there is no single correct defining point at which society became civilized, nor is there a geographical or demographic based definition agreed upon by all. Some might think of ancient 'civilizations' such as Greece or Egypt as being civilized. Others tend to prefer the last of the Free Online Dictionary's definitions, that we only reached a truly civilized state recently within the last hundred

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