philistinism Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a desire for wealth and material possessions with little interest in ethical or spiritual matters
    materialism.

WordNet

Phi*lis"tin*ism noun
Definitions
  1. The condition, character, aims, and habits of the class called Philistines. See Philistine, 3. Recent Carlyle.
    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.

Webster 1913