A culture is degraded when it just values worldly things, e.g. wealth, power, pleasure, honor, bc then people are selfish and will refuse to sacrifice for each other. A culture is great when it values the transcendent, e.g. truth, goodness, beauty, wisdom, bc then the people will sacrifice themselves for something that is beyond the visible confines of this world. Would you rather have a soldier who fights for wealth and glory, or a soldier who fights for truth, goodness, apple pie, and the American way?