Defining Culture: The Meaning of ‘Person’ as Carrier of Cultural Meaning

In this paper a methodology built on the foundations of Peirce and Whitehead is used to assert that 'persons' -as distinguished from 'individuals'are the true vehicles of culture. This, because they are the uniquely social actors who extend, in and through time, new or preexisting artifacts. In short, the individual-as-person either acts out a cultural trait thus becoming a living artifact, or otherwise creates material artifacts. Alfred Kroeber's remarks are used as an anthropological backdrop to the discussions.