Why did Edward Burnett Tylor emphasize learned habits in his account of culture?

Edward Burnett Tylor emphasized learned habits in his definition of culture to distinguish the nonbiological, nonracial, and noninstinctual dimensions of human life from innate biological traits. By defining culture as a "complex whole" that includes "knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society," Tylor sought to establish a framework for studying human behavior as a product of social experience rather than biological inheritance.12

This focus was central to his evolutionary perspective, which viewed all human societies as part of a single, progressive history. By categorizing culture as something "acquired," Tylor highlighted the capacity for human development and the transmission of traditions across generations. This approach allowed anthropologists to study the "technological and moral accomplishments" of all peoples, regardless of their stage of development, and to examine how customs—or "survivals"—persist from the past into the modern world. Ultimately, his emphasis on learned behavior served to underscore the psychological and physical unity of all mankind, positioning culture as the foundation of human thought and society.12