What does philistinism mean?
Definitions for philistinism
philis·tin·ism
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word philistinism.
Princeton's WordNet
materialism, philistinismnoun
a desire for wealth and material possessions with little interest in ethical or spiritual matters
Wiktionary
philistinismnoun
A materialistic attitude accompanied by ignorance of artistic or cultural matters
Wikipedia
Philistinism
In the fields of philosophy and of aesthetics, the term philistinism describes the attitudes, habits, and characteristics of a person who deprecates art and beauty, spirituality and intellect. As a derogatory term philistine describes a person who is narrow-minded and hostile to the life of the mind, whose materialistic worldview and tastes indicate an indifference to cultural and aesthetic values.The contemporary meaning of philistine derives from Matthew Arnold's adaptation to English of the German word Philister, as applied by university students in their antagonistic relations with the townspeople of Jena, Germany, where a row resulted in several deaths, in 1689. About the riot, Georg Heinrich Götze, the ecclesiastical superintendent, applied the word Philister in his sermon about the social class hostilities between students and townspeople. Götze addressed the town-vs-gown matter with an admonishing sermon, "The Philistines Be Upon Thee", drawn from the Book of Judges (Chapt. 16, Samson vs the Philistines), of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), adopted into the Christian Old Testament.
ChatGPT
philistinism
Philistinism is an attitude or behavior characterized by a lack of understanding, appreciation, or regard for intellectual, artistic, or cultural values. It often implies contentment with more superficial or material pleasures and can include a disdain for intellectual or artistic pursuits.
Webster Dictionary
Philistinismnoun
the condition, character, aims, and habits of the class called Philistines. See Philistine, 3
Wikidata
Philistinism
In the fields of philosophy and æsthetics, the term philistinism describes the social attitude of anti-intellectualism that undervalues and despises art, beauty, spirituality, and intellect; ‘the manners, habits, and character, or mode of thinking of a philistine’. A philistine person is the man or woman who is smugly narrow of mind and of conventional morality whose materialistic views and tastes indicate a lack of and indifference to cultural and æsthetic values. Since the 19th century, the contemporary denotation of philistinism, as the behaviour of ‘ignorant, ill-behaved persons lacking in culture or artistic appreciation, and only concerned with materialistic values’ derives from Matthew Arnold’s adaptation to English of the German word Philister — as applied by university students in their antagonistic relations with the townspeople of Jena, Germany, where, in 1689, a row resulted in several deaths. In the aftermath, the university cleric addressed the town-vs-gown matter with an admonishing sermon ‘The Philistines be upon thee’, drawn from the Book of Judges, of the Tanakh and the Christian Old Testament.
Etymology and Origins
Philistinism
The name given to that cynicism which sneers at religion. This arose out of the scorn with which the Philistines of Palestine regarded the rites and ceremonies of the Israelites.
Matched Categories
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
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Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of philistinism in Chaldean Numerology is: 3
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of philistinism in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4
References
Translations for philistinism
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"philistinism." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 19 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/philistinism>.
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