Philistinism

Definition: lack of appreciation for art or culture

This is a form of the name Philistines, which were a people who lived in what is now Southern Israel in the iron and bronze ages. They may have been formed by seafaring Greeks – several civilizations in the Eastern Mediterranean record being attacked by “sea people.”

They were portrayed negatively in the Biblical Old Testament, in particular coming into conflict with the Israelites. Of note, Goliath – the warrior famously defeated by David – was a Philistine. They were eventually defeated by David, who became king.

The word “philistinism” is meant to represent someone who is uneducated, does not appreciate culture, or who has a lack of respect for art or other humanities.

What’s odd is that this usage of the word doesn’t seem to have much relation to the Biblical tribe of people – there is no evidence that the Philistines embodied the archetype of the base, uneducated peasant.

The modern usage word was coined in Germany using the story of Samson and Delilah when Samson is surrounded by the Philistines (Judges 16:9). In the original context, the educated person was surrounded by and “attacked” by mobs of the uneducated. So, the reference was simply to the general concept of being outnumbered.

Why I Looked It Up

I have the picture of a book page in my notes. I can’t be sure, but I think it came from Once Upon a Tome:

I patiently waited for Andrew to break the bad news to Mr. Willoughby, who was grumbling about how he’d been asked to downsize the library and accusing his colleagues of philistinism.