the.com/materialism
the religion where the gift shop is the temple and checkout is communion.
means The belief or lifestyle that prioritizes physical possessions and comfort over spiritual or intellectual values — or, in philosophy, the view that everything that exists is ultimately matter.
from From Latin 'materia,' meaning 'matter' or 'stuff' (itself related to 'mater,' mother — the substance from which things are made). The '-ism' suffix, from Greek '-ismos,' turns it into a doctrine or system. 'Materialism' entered English in the 18th century, first as a philosophical term for the doctrine that matter is the only reality; the everyday sense — a craving for things over ideals — grew alongside it as factories, shops, and goods multiplied.
- ancient roots
- Greek atomists argued only matter exists, 2400 years ago
- diderot's quip
- he wanted kings strangled with priests' entrails, mocking spiritual excess
- buying high
- shopping triggers dopamine like gambling and drugs do
- hedonic treadmill
- new purchases boost happiness only briefly before fading
- marx flip
- historical materialism says economics shapes ideas, not reverse
black friday — annual shopping event generating $9.12 billion in us sales on single day in november
fast fashion industry — zara produces 500 million garments yearly, designed for rapid disposal and replacement
influencer unboxing videos — platforms like youtube monetize consumption rituals, millions of viewers watching product hauls daily