"Civilization is the order and freedom is promoting cultural activity"

Will Durant’s assertion that “Civilization is the order and freedom is promoting cultural activity” encapsulates a nuanced understanding of how societies thrive. At the core, Durant equates civilization with a balance: it is not merely the presence of laws, structures, or technology, but the ordering of human endeavors in a way that sustains collective life. Order, in this sense, refers to the frameworks—social, legal, and ethical—that establish predictability and harmony in societal relations. Such order is necessary to prevent chaos, enabling people to coexist peacefully and work together toward common goals.

Order alone, however, is insufficient for the full flowering of civilization. Durant complements order with freedom, suggesting that civilization prospers most when individuals and groups have the liberty to engage in cultural activities—art, philosophy, science, literature, and all creative or intellectual pursuits. Freedom provides the space for self-expression and exploration, allowing people to push boundaries, challenge conventions, and pursue innovation. It invites diversity of thought, which is essential for cultural vibrancy and progress.

The relationship between order and freedom is delicately interdependent. Too much order without freedom leads to stagnation; societies may become rigid and suppressive, undermining the very engine of cultural development. Conversely, unchecked freedom without order can devolve into chaos, eroding the structures that make meaningful cultural activities possible. Durant recognizes that the great civilizations of history have flourished when they managed to harmonize these principles—when their legal and social environments secured stability, yet encouraged individual and collective creativity.

Cultural activity, as promoted by freedom, becomes the indicator and driver of a civilization’s vitality. It is through literature, music, architecture, philosophy, and science that civilizations express their highest ideals and grapples with the profound questions of existence. Thus, for Durant, true civilization is neither mere order nor unfettered liberty, but the creative synergy between them, fostering the continual growth of the human spirit.