Culture and Civilization: A Tripartite Comparative Study of Cognitive and Value Foundations

Abstract

This study analyzes the concepts of culture and civilization within three major intellectual traditions: Western, Arab-Islamic, and Chinese. It adopts a comparative analytical approach based on a descriptive–analytical review of classical and contemporary literature, combined with the use of the comparative method. The study starts from the problem of the multiplicity of conceptual meanings associated with the two terms and the variation in their epistemological and value foundations, which leads to differing interpretations of civilizational progress and its criteria.
The study employs a comparative analytical framework that focuses on four interrelated dimensions: the epistemological, value-based, institutional, and ecological dimensions, in order to reveal the philosophical foundations that shape the definitions of culture and civilization in each context.
The findings indicate that the modern Western perspective tends to associate civilization with scientific progress and institutional organization, whereas Arab-Islamic thought emphasizes the integration of the material and spiritual dimensions and the centrality of values in the process of civilizational development. In contrast, Chinese thought proposes a conception of progress grounded in harmony and sustainability, as reflected in the notion of “ecological civilization.” The comparison shows that these perspectives represent multiple civilizational trajectories rather than necessarily conflicting models.
The study’s scholarly contribution lies in offering a triadic comparative reading based on a multidimensional analytical framework that incorporates the ecological dimension into the analysis of epistemological and value foundations, thereby promoting a more balanced understanding of civilizational plurality in contemporary debates.