Materialism


preoccupation with or emphasis on objects, comforts, and considerations, with a disinterest in or rejection of spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values.
the philosophical theory that regards matter and its motions as constituting the universe, and all phenomena, including those of mind, as due to agencies.
Contemporary Examples

It just feeds the fire of materialism, and feeds the fire of make up, and false attire, and whatnot.
Shailene Woodley Opens Up About Coming of Age, ‘Divergent,’ and the Faults in Our World Marlow Stern January 21, 2014

A Youtube video of some jet-setting Buddhist monks has Thailand scrambling to crack down on materialism in the monastic ranks.
Jet-Setting Video of Thai Buddhist Monks Causes Scandal Erin Cunningham June 17, 2013

“The woman of Saudi Arabia today is a combination of spirituality, sexuality and materialism,” she said.
Nude Art Mag Riles Middle East Betwa Sharma September 2, 2010

You mentioned “materialism” earlier, and one of the themes of both The Hunger Games and Divergent is class warfare.
Shailene Woodley Opens Up About Coming of Age, ‘Divergent,’ and the Faults in Our World Marlow Stern January 21, 2014

It seems the world of law and idol breaking needed something of the Greeks’ materialism, too.
Christmas For Love, Chanukah For Awe Bernard Avishai December 6, 2012

Historical Examples

It passes from apparent atheism and materialism to theism, polytheism, and spiritualism.
Buddhism, In its Connexion With Brahmanism and Hinduism, and In Its Contrast with Christianity Sir Monier Monier-Williams

He might have escaped this materialism through the church, but to him it offered no inducements.
Dust Mr. and Mrs. Haldeman-Julius

Without war the world would stagnate and lose itself in materialism.
The Outline of History: Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind Herbert George Wells

There will soon be no babies for you to instruct either in materialism or socialism.
Mountain Meditations L. Lind-af-Hageby

It is as much below materialism, as materialism is below monotheism.
Evolution Of The Japanese, Social And Psychic Sidney L. Gulick

noun
interest in and desire for money, possessions, etc, rather than spiritual or ethical values
(philosophy) the monist doctrine that matter is the only reality and that the mind, the emotions, etc, are merely functions of it Compare idealism (sense 3), dualism (sense 2) See also identity theory
(ethics) the rejection of any religious or supernatural account of things
n.

1748, “philosophy that nothing exists except matter” (from French matérialisme); 1851 as “a way of life based entirely on consumer goods.” From material + ism.

In philosophy, the position that nothing exists except matter — things that can be measured or known through the senses. Materialists deny the existence of spirit, and they look for physical explanations for all phenomena. Thus, for example, they trace mental states to the brain or nervous system, rather than to the spirit or the soul. Marxism, because it sees human culture as the product of economic forces, is a materialist system of beliefs.

Read Also:

  • Materialist

    a person who is markedly more concerned with things than with spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values. an adherent of philosophical . concerned with things; materialistic. of or relating to philosophical or its adherents. Historical Examples As though any great poet who had come to years of discretion could be a materialist or an infidel. Victor […]

  • Materialistic

    excessively concerned with physical comforts or the acquisition of wealth and possessions, rather than with spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values. adhering to the philosophy of , a theory that regards matter as constituting the universe and all its phenomena. Contemporary Examples This is sort of a materialistic tradition, but every year for Sundance, my friends […]

  • Anti materialistic

    excessively concerned with physical comforts or the acquisition of wealth and possessions, rather than with spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values. adhering to the philosophy of , a theory that regards matter as constituting the universe and all its phenomena. adj. 1829, from materialist + -ic. Related: Materialistically.

  • Antimatter

    composed only of antiparticles, especially antiprotons, antineutrons, and positrons. Contemporary Examples Instead, dark matter is its own antimatter, so any pair of particles that meet will destroy each other. Still No Dark Matter from Space Station Experiment Matthew R. Francis September 20, 2014 Historical Examples On the average, one atom out of every ten million […]

  • Mechanism

    an assembly of moving parts performing a complete functional motion, often being part of a large machine; linkage. the agency or means by which an effect is produced or a purpose is accomplished. machinery or mechanical appliances in general. the structure or arrangement of parts of a machine or similar device, or of anything analogous. […]


Disclaimer: Materialism definition / meaning should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. All content on this website is for informational purposes only.