philistinism

• Meaning: a desire for wealth & material possessions with little interest in ethical or spiritual matters, an attitude of smug (自大) ignorance & conventionalisms, esp toward artistic & cultural values
  
• Origin: Hebrew Bible: Philistines (非利士人)
  
• In Chinese: (similar & comparable, but not exactly parallel) 暴發戶心態 - a combination of being 財大氣粗 + 俗不可耐 + 錢大晒 + 唔用腦 + 無品味 + 串
  
• Where we first met: Times Higher Education Supplement: an Oxford scholar criticises Sussex University's decision to close its famous Chemistry Department as 'a shameful act of philistinism'.
  

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