Philistinism

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Philistinism \Phi*lis"tin*ism\, n.
     The condition, character, aims, and habits of the class
     called Philistines. See {Philistine}, 3. [Recent] --Carlyle.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           On the side of beauty and taste, vulgarity; on the side


           of morals and feeling, coarseness; on the side of mind
           and spirit, unintelligence, -- this is Philistinism.
                                                    --M. Arnold.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  philistinism
       n : a desire for wealth and material possessions with little
           interest in ethical or spiritual matters [syn: {materialism}]