Final answer:
Raybeck does not directly define 'simple' and 'complex' cultures in the provided texts. However, complex cultures can be inferred to be those with evolutionary, adaptive, and self-organizing systems manifested in multiple facets like economics, and science. Simple cultures, often misunderstood through limited perspectives, also possess intricate systems of knowledge and practices that should not be oversimplified.
Step-by-step explanation:
Raybeck does not provide a direct definition of "simple" and "complex" cultures within the given information. However, based on the given references, it can be deduced that complex cultures are those with multiple layers of structures, practices, and artifacts, which show signs of adaptation and evolution over time. They can be seen through various complex systems of human interactions, such as economics and science, which evolve and self-organize. On the contrary, what might be perceived as simple cultures, like those of hunter-gatherer societies with vast environmental knowledge, are still sophisticated in their own ways and cannot be deemed simple based on technology alone. Moreover, cultural complexity is also highlighted by the fact that within any given culture, there are multiple perspectives that often contradict each other, leading to conflicts and changes.
The concept of culture can be divided into the material culture (what we make), social practices (what we do), and shared cognitions (what we think). Museums like the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian exhibit tangible aspects of culture while aspects such as traditions, political systems, and language development reflect the complexity of intangible culture. The intricacy of cultures is also seen in the adaptive nature of complex systems, including cultural systems, which organize, adapt, and evolve similarly to biological evolution and artificial intelligence. Additionally, recognizing that cultures are not stagnant, but rather, are dynamic and shaped by continuous interaction between society’s structures and individual or institutional agency.
Thus, it's clear that all cultures are complex, albeit in different ways, and cannot be classified simplistically as simple or complex based solely on technological or other singular measures.