Environment vs. Culture: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 27, 2023
Environment refers to the physical and natural surroundings, while culture encompasses the beliefs, practices, and social norms of a group.
Key Differences
Environment typically signifies the physical and natural world, encompassing elements like climate, geography, and ecosystems. Culture, in contrast, relates to the collective practices, values, and traditions of a human group, shaped by historical, social, and ideological factors.
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Dec 27, 2023
The environment plays a crucial role in determining living conditions, resources, and challenges faced by humans, influencing lifestyles and activities. Culture, however, is about the shared beliefs, arts, customs, and social behavior of people, significantly impacting their identity and interpersonal relations.
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Dec 27, 2023
Environmental changes, whether natural or human-induced, can lead to significant shifts in ecosystems and biodiversity. Cultural evolution, conversely, occurs through changes in societal norms, practices, and values, often influenced by external factors like technology, globalization, and interaction with other cultures.
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Dec 27, 2023
Environmental studies focus on understanding the physical world, ecological interactions, and environmental issues like climate change. Cultural studies delve into understanding human societies, exploring areas like language, religion, art, and social structures.
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Dec 27, 2023
Humans interact with the environment by utilizing natural resources and altering landscapes, which can lead to environmental challenges. In contrast, culture is shaped by human interaction and expression, evolving with societal changes and influencing personal and collective identities.
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Dec 27, 2023
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Comparison Chart
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Environment and Culture Definitions
Environment
Environment encompasses the ecological conditions that affect living organisms.
Pollution adversely affects the marine environment, endangering aquatic life.
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Culture
Culture also represents the set of shared practices and knowledge of a particular group, especially as passed down from generation to generation.
Storytelling is an important part of Native American culture.
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Dec 27, 2023
Environment
Environment includes the natural resources and ecosystems of an area.
Conserving the environment is crucial for sustaining future generations.
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Dec 27, 2023
Culture
The arts, beliefs, customs, institutions, and other products of human work and thought considered as a unit, especially with regard to a particular time or social group
Edwardian culture.
Japanese culture.
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Oct 19, 2023
Environment
Environment also refers to the settings or conditions in which a particular activity is carried out.
A supportive environment is essential for effective learning.
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Dec 27, 2023
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Culture
These arts, beliefs, and other products considered with respect to a particular subject or mode of expression
Musical culture.
Oral culture.
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Environment
The totality of the natural world, often excluding humans
"Technology, of course, lies at the heart of man's relationship with the environment" (Mark Hertsgaard).
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Oct 19, 2023
Culture
The set of predominating attitudes and behavior that characterize a group or organization
A manager who changed the corporate culture.
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Environment
A subset of the natural world; an ecosystem
The coastal environment.
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Oct 19, 2023
Culture
Mental refinement and sophisticated taste resulting from the appreciation of the arts and sciences
A woman of great culture.
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Environment
The combination of external physical conditions that affect and influence the growth, development, behavior, and survival of organisms
"Conditions in a lion's environment ... can drive it to hunt people" (Philip Caputo).
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Culture
Special training and development
Voice culture for singers and actors.
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Environment
The complex of social and cultural conditions affecting the nature of an individual person or community.
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Oct 19, 2023
Environment
The general set of conditions or circumstances
A terrible environment for doing business.
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Culture
The breeding or cultivation of animals or plants for food, the improvement of stock, or other purposes.
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Environment
The entire set of conditions under which one operates a computer, as it relates to the hardware, operating platform, or operating system.
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Culture
The growing of microorganisms, tissue cells, or other living matter in a specially prepared nutrient medium.
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Environment
An area of a computer's memory used by the operating system and some programs to store certain variables to which they need frequent access.
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Environment
The surroundings of, and influences on, a particular item of interest.
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Culture
To grow (microorganisms or other living matter) in a specially prepared nutrient medium.
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Environment
All the elements that affect a system or its inputs and outputs.
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Oct 19, 2023
Culture
The arts, customs, lifestyles, background, and habits that characterize humankind, or a particular society or nation.
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Environment
(computing) The software and/or hardware existing on any particular computer system.
That program uses the Microsoft Windows environment.
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Culture
The beliefs, values, behaviour and material objects that constitute a people's way of life.
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Environment
(programming) The environment of a function at a point during the execution of a program is the set of identifiers in the function's scope and their bindings at that point.
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Culture
The conventional conducts and ideologies of a community; the system comprising the accepted norms and values of a society.
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Oct 19, 2023
Environment
(computing) The set of variables and their values in a namespace that an operating system associates with a process.
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Culture
(anthropology) Any knowledge passed from one generation to the next, not necessarily with respect to human beings.
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Environment
That which environs or surrounds; surrounding conditions, influences, or forces, by which living forms are influenced and modified in their growth and development.
It is no friendly environment, this of thine.
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Culture
(microbiology) The process of growing a bacterial or other biological entity in an artificial medium.
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Environment
The totality of surrounding conditions;
He longed for the comfortable environment of his livingroom
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Culture
The growth thus produced.
I'm headed to the lab to make sure my cell culture hasn't died.
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Environment
The area in which something exists or lives;
The country--the flat agricultural surround
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Environment
Environment refers to the natural and physical surroundings.
The diverse environment of the rainforest supports a wide range of species.
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Culture
(cartography) The details on a map that do not represent natural features of the area delineated, such as names and the symbols for towns, roads, meridians, and parallels.
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Oct 19, 2023
Environment
Environment can mean the geographical and climatic features of a region.
The harsh desert environment poses survival challenges for its inhabitants.
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Culture
(archaeology) A recurring assemblage of artifacts from a specific time and place that may constitute the material culture remains of a particular past human society.
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Culture
(euphemism) Ethnicity, race (and its associated arts, customs, etc.)
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Culture
(transitive) to maintain in an environment suitable for growth especially of bacteria cultivate}}
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Culture
(transitive) to increase the artistic or scientific interest in something cultivate}}
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Culture
The act or practice of cultivating, or of preparing the earth for seed and raising crops by tillage; as, the culture of the soil.
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Culture
The act of, or any labor or means employed for, training, disciplining, or refining the moral and intellectual nature of man; as, the culture of the mind.
If vain our toilWe ought to blame the culture, not the soil.
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Culture
The state of being cultivated; result of cultivation; physical improvement; enlightenment and discipline acquired by mental and moral training; civilization; refinement in manners and taste.
What the Greeks expressed by their paidei`a, the Romans by their humanitas, we less happily try to express by the more artificial word culture.
The list of all the items of the general life of a people represents that whole which we call its culture.
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Culture
The cultivation of bacteria or other organisms (such as fungi or eukaryotic cells from mulitcellular organisms) in artificial media or under artificial conditions.
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Culture
Those details of a map, collectively, which do not represent natural features of the area delineated, as names and the symbols for towns, roads, houses, bridges, meridians, and parallels.
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Oct 19, 2023
Culture
To cultivate; to educate.
They came . . . into places well inhabited and cultured.
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Culture
A particular society at a particular time and place;
Early Mayan civilization
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Culture
(biology) the growing of microorganisms in a nutrient medium (such as gelatin or agar);
The culture of cells in a Petri dish
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Culture
(bacteriology) the product of cultivating micro-organisms in a nutrient medium
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Culture
A highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality;
They performed with great polish
I admired the exquisite refinement of his prose
Almost an inspiration which gives to all work that finish which is almost art
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Culture
The attitudes and behavior that are characteristic of a particular social group or organization;
The developing drug culture
The reason that the agency is doomed to inaction has something to do with the FBI culture
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Culture
Culture is the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization.
The company's culture emphasizes innovation and teamwork.
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Culture
Culture refers to the arts, customs, and habits that characterize a particular society or nation.
Japanese culture is known for its traditional arts and tea ceremonies.
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Culture
Culture encompasses the beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group.
The culture of the Maasai tribe is rich in ceremonial rituals.
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Culture
Culture can be the characteristic features of everyday existence shared by people in a place or time.
The 1960s culture was marked by a spirit of rebellion and musical innovation.
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Dec 27, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is the environment?
The environment is the sum of all external conditions and influences affecting the life and development of organisms.
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Dec 27, 2023
How does culture impact the environment?
Culture impacts the environment through practices like land use, resource consumption, and environmental conservation or degradation.
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Dec 27, 2023
How does culture evolve?
Culture evolves through changes in societal norms, technological advancements, and interactions with other cultures.
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Dec 27, 2023
Can culture be influenced by the environment?
Yes, environmental factors like climate and geography can significantly shape cultural practices and lifestyles.
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Dec 27, 2023
How does environment affect human health?
Environmental factors like pollution, climate, and access to natural resources directly impact human health.
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Dec 27, 2023
Can environmental policies influence cultural practices?
Yes, policies aimed at environmental protection can alter cultural practices related to resource use and conservation.
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Dec 27, 2023
How do globalization and technology affect culture?
They can lead to the spread and mixing of cultural ideas, practices, and innovations.
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Dec 27, 2023
What is environmental conservation?
Environmental conservation involves protecting natural resources and ecosystems for future generations.
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What are the main components of the environment?
The main components include air, water, land, and living organisms.
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What is cultural heritage?
Cultural heritage refers to the traditions, practices, and values passed down through generations within a culture.
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Dec 27, 2023
Can environmental changes lead to cultural adaptations?
Yes, environmental changes can necessitate cultural adaptations for survival and sustainability.
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Dec 27, 2023
How is culture preserved?
Culture is preserved through documentation, education, and the practice of cultural traditions.
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Dec 27, 2023
What role does education play in understanding the environment?
Education plays a critical role in understanding environmental issues and promoting sustainable practices.
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Dec 27, 2023
What defines a sustainable environment?
A sustainable environment is one where natural resources are used responsibly, ensuring ecosystem health and longevity.
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Dec 27, 2023
What is the relationship between environment and development?
Sustainable development seeks to balance environmental protection with economic growth.
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How is culture expressed?
Culture is expressed through language, art, religion, customs, and social behaviors.
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Dec 27, 2023
How do cultural norms affect behavior?
Cultural norms dictate acceptable behavior, influencing individual and group actions.
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Dec 27, 2023
What is the impact of culture on society?
Culture shapes social structures, norms, values, and influences societal progress and cohesion.
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Dec 27, 2023
How can culture contribute to environmental solutions?
Cultural values and practices can promote environmental stewardship and sustainable living.
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Dec 27, 2023
What challenges do environmental changes pose to cultures?
Environmental changes can threaten cultural practices tied to specific geographical or climatic conditions.
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Dec 27, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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