Final answer:
Cultural knowledge includes the wide spectrum of beliefs, values, languages, arts, and traditions that make up a society's way of life, evolved through experience, technology, and social change. It is shaped and conveyed by elements like symbols and language, and is investigated through different sociological theories.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cultural knowledge encompasses a broad range of elements including beliefs, values, language, arts, traditions, and the entirety of a society's way of life. It is the collective mental programming that individuals inherit and that shapes their perceptions and behavior. This knowledge is not stagnant; it evolves with new experiences, technological advancements, and social changes. Societies consist of dominant cultures and various subcultures, reflecting diverse identities, interests, and beliefs within the larger cultural framework. When analyzing what constitutes cultural knowledge, it is critical to also consider the role of symbols, language development, and the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis that suggests language shapes our reality. Moreover, sociology emphasizes the role of social control within culture through norms such as laws, mores, and folkways. The understanding of culture is further deepened by theoretical perspectives such as functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism, each offering unique insights into the cultural system.