Philistine (Phi*lis”tine): A person deficient in liberal culture and refinement; one without appreciation of the nobler aspirations and sentiments of humanity; one whose scope is limited to selfish and material interests. (Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 Edition)
Goethe said, ‘The Philistine not only ignores all conditions of life which are not his own, but also demands that the rest of mankind should fashion its mode of existence after his own.’
There are lots of these people around, and as it happens, there’s a word for them. The problem is, when I use it in conversation people go all glassy-eyed.
Can we please add this word back to our everyday lexicon?
Robert Mitchell Jr. 