While studying the Korean language the nature of culture became a question that needed answering. Faced with classmates from all over the world with vastly different cultures and the current fads in thinking about culture and ethnicity there were contradictions and gaps. Does pluralism explain anything? Was there an explanation of culture that would be universal in nature? Obviously, saying that all cultures are valid is a contradiction since various cultures contradict each other on what is appropriate. Shoes on or shoes off in the house is a simple example.
It is the very nature of cultures to disagree with each other. That is the factor that makes distinct cultures. There is a view that at one time there was only one culture and that that condition didn’t last long. The idea of agreement is based on the idea that one course of action is desirable over another course of action. Dictionary.com has it: “to have the same views, emotions, etc.; harmonize in opinion or feeling”. Words like concord, consent, assent, concurrence, comply, and consistent are found in the various definitions of the word. At the same time “without contention” the opposite is also used. Perhaps a culture is a dissolution of contention at it’s very root.
Culture certainly has to do with action.