Culture is a product of collective human actions from "summary" of The Evolution of Everything by Matt Ridley
Culture emerges as a spontaneous order from the interactions of countless individuals over time. It is not the result of any intentional design or top-down control, but rather a bottom-up phenomenon that arises organically from the collective actions of human beings. Just as language evolves through the decentralized efforts of millions of speakers, so too does culture develop through the decentralized efforts of millions of individuals engaging in various forms of social interaction. Every tradition, custom, belief, and practice that makes up a culture is the product of countless individual decisions made by people in response to their own circumstances. These decisions are influenced by a wide range of factors, including personal preferences, social norms, historical events, and environmental conditions. As a result, culture is constantly evolving and adapting to changing circumstances, with new ideas and practices emerging and old ones fading away over time. While it may seem as though culture is a fixed and unchanging entity, the reality is that it is always in a state of flux, with new cultural forms emerging and existing ones being modified or discarded. This process of cultural evolution is driven by the cumulative effect of individual actions, as people adopt, adapt, and transmit cultural practices to others in their social networks.- We can gain a deeper understanding of how it evolves and changes over time. This perspective allows us to appreciate the complexity and diversity of human cultures, as well as the role that individuals play in shaping the cultural landscape. Ultimately, culture is not something that is imposed from above or dictated by a central authority; rather, it is a dynamic and ever-changing system that emerges from the interactions of individuals in society.
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