A general definition of civilization: a civilized society is exhibiting the five qualities of truth, beauty, adventure, art, peace.

Whitehead is proposing a value-based, cultural definition of “civilization,” shifting the term away from mere technology, wealth, or political power. The five qualities he lists suggest a society’s maturity is measured by its commitment to intellectual honesty (truth), aesthetic and moral refinement (beauty), openness to risk and novelty (adventure), sustained creative expression (art), and social harmony (peace). Read together, the list implies a balance: a civilization should not become complacent (it needs adventure and art) nor destructive (it needs truth and peace). The formulation also reflects Whitehead’s broader philosophical interest in process, creativity, and the conditions that allow human experience to flourish.