materialism
focus on money and possessions
thinking that money and things you own are the most important.
materialism; the materialism of [a person/society]; accuse [someone] of materialism
- Many people worry that social media encourages materialism and constant comparison.
- She tried to raise her children without the materialism she grew up around.
- The novel criticizes the materialism of modern city life.
- I don’t like materialism.
- Materialism can make people unhappy.
doctrine that only matter is real
the belief that only physical things exist and there is nothing supernatural.
materialism; philosophical materialism; materialism about [mind/consciousness]
- In his lectures, he argued for materialism and against the existence of a non-physical soul.
- Critics say strict materialism cannot fully explain consciousness.
- The debate centered on whether materialism or dualism best fits the evidence.
- Materialism says everything is physical.
- Some philosophers disagree with materialism.
Marxist emphasis on material conditions
the idea (in Marxism) that history is shaped mainly by economic and physical conditions.
Marxist materialism; materialism in [Marxism/social theory]
- The course introduced materialism as a key concept in Marxist social theory.
- Her essay uses materialism to explain how economic shifts changed family life.
- He criticized the film’s politics as a simplistic kind of materialism.
- In Marxism, materialism focuses on economics.
- They discussed materialism in history class.
- Base: materialism
- Plural: materialism
a culture of materialism
1society centered on possessions
a society where owning things is very important.
- They argue that advertising helps create a culture of materialism.
- The documentary explores how a culture of materialism affects mental health.
- Some parents try to protect their children from a culture of materialism.
crass materialism
1vulgar pursuit of wealth
a rude, shallow love of money and expensive things.
- He was embarrassed by the crass materialism of the party, with guests competing over designer brands.
- The film satirizes crass materialism in the world of celebrity culture.
- She criticized the ad campaign for promoting crass materialism.
dialectical materialism
1Marxist philosophy of change
a Marxist theory that society changes through conflict in real-world conditions.
- The reading linked dialectical materialism to the idea that social systems contain internal tensions.
- He described dialectical materialism as the philosophical basis of Marxism-Leninism.
- Students debated whether dialectical materialism still has explanatory power today.
dialectical materialism
1Marxist theory of change
A Marxist theory that explains change through conflicts in material and social conditions.
- The course introduces dialectical materialism as a central idea in Marxist philosophy.
- According to dialectical materialism, economic structures shape social life and change through conflict.
- Her article criticizes dialectical materialism for reducing culture to material conditions.
historical materialism
1Marxist theory of history
a way of explaining history mainly through economic and material causes.
- Her argument draws on historical materialism to connect political reforms to economic change.
- Historical materialism treats class relations as central to understanding history.
- The professor contrasted historical materialism with accounts focused on individual leaders.
rampant materialism
1materialism spreading widely
materialism that is very common and increasing.
- Some commentators blame rampant materialism for the decline in community life.
- The author links rampant materialism to rising personal debt.
- Teachers said rampant materialism was shaping students’ goals.