materialism

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“
This materialism is the belief that the material world is the ONLY world, or at least the only relevant one.

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Definitions (11)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. noun Philosophy The theory that physical matter is the only reality and that everything, including thought, feeling, mind, and will, can be explained in terms of matter and physical phenomena.
  2. noun The theory or attitude that physical well-being and worldly possessions constitute the greatest good and highest value in life.
  3. noun A great or excessive regard for worldly concerns.

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Examples (50)

  • Economic uncertainty can create greater materialism, according to research co-written by psychologist Tim Kasser of Knox College in Galesburg, Ill., and published last year in the journal —  All Today's News - Sightline Daily
  • The opposite would be a sensible equivalent of anti-materialism, or immaterialism. —  Conservapedia - Recent changes [en]
  • "As Barack Obama has said many, many times in the past, rap lyrics today too often perpetuate misogyny, materialism, and degrading images that he doesn't want his daughters or any children exposed to," Burton said. —  CNN Political Ticker
  • Formulating the principles of dialectical materialism, they believed that labor creates wealth, hence capitalism is exploitive and antithetical to freedom. —  CiteULike: Everyone's library
  • The knowledge argument is a profound problem for strict materialism, and materialist philosophers of the mind such as Daniel Dennett have devoted considerable effort to refuting it. —  Evolution News & Views
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Etymologies (1)

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. First used in English; = French matérialisme = Spanish Portuguese Italian materialismo; as material + -ism.
 

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/məˈtirɪəlɪzm/
by American Heritage

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