Conrad Black

A quest for knowledge is not a war with faith; spirituality is not usually an infelicitous amalgam of superstition and philistinism; and moral relativism, taken outside midfield, leads inexorably both to heresy and to secular wickedness, which are often identical.

British Businessman

Walter Gropius

Capitalism and power politics have made our generation creatively sluggish, and our vital art is mired in a broad bourgeois philistinism.

German Architect

Philistinism hints at indifference or even contempt towards artistic and cultural values.

Cultural Apathy

Use 'philistinism' to express disapproval towards someone's dismissive attitude to culture.

Negative Tone

Applicable in situations where cultural and artistic values are being disregarded.

Context Specific

Use 'philistinism' when money and possessions are prioritized over cultural richness.

Material Over Culture

Philistinism often comes up in discussions about societal values and directions.

Societal Concern

Philistinism is usually a critical term, implying narrow-mindedness in valuing material wealth.