Final answer:
The terms 'primitive' and 'civilized' have historically been used to categorize cultures on a Eurocentric scale of development, with 'primitive' being seen as less developed and 'civilized' implying a higher level of cultural, social, and moral development. These concepts are fraught with ethnocentrism and are now rejected by modern scholarship which instead looks to understand each culture on its own terms. The understanding of 'civilization' itself has evolved to focus on complexities and developments in societal structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the word “primitive” is mentioned, it often refers to something that is considered to be at an early stage of cultural, technological, or social development, historically seen as less sophisticated or complex. On the other hand, the term “civilized” suggests a stage of society that has reached a level of cultural, social, and moral development often associated with urban life, advanced socio-political structures, and cultural refinement. However, these terms carry a heavy historical load of Eurocentrism and ethnocentrism, as the concepts of “primitive” and “civilized” have been used to categorize and often diminish the value and complexity of non-European cultures.
The problematic term “primitive” has been traditionally used in the context of art and culture, especially when referencing the art of Native tribes and First Nations, viewed through the lens of colonialism. Similarly, the notion of “civilization” has historically been tied to Eurocentric standards that unfairly ranked other socio-cultural systems as inferior. Primitivism and Orientalism are examples of paradigms that reflect these outdated views, identifying European cultures as “enlightened” while labeling others as “ignorant savages” or “noble savages”.
Modern scholarship has moved toward recognizing that no single measure of progress or development is universally applicable and that each culture must be understood in its own right rather than being judged by an externally imposed scale. Civilization, as a concept, now tends to refer to the complexities within societies such as agriculture, social specialization, and cultural developments rather than a marker of inherent societal worth or progress.