In philosophy:
* Materialism is a philosophical position that holds that the only thing that exists is matter, and that all phenomena, including consciousness, can be explained in terms of matter and its interactions. This is in contrast to idealism, which holds that mind or spirit is fundamental.
In everyday language:
* Materialistic describes someone who is overly concerned with material possessions and wealth. This can be seen as negative, suggesting someone is shallow or lacking in other values.
Other meanings:
* Material can simply refer to something made of physical matter, like "material goods".
* Materialism can sometimes be used in art to refer to the use of materials and techniques.
To understand the meaning of "materialist" in a specific context, it's important to pay attention to the surrounding words and the overall message.
Here are some examples:
* "He's a materialist and only cares about money and status." This is using the everyday language definition, suggesting the person is shallow and focused on material things.
* "The philosopher argued for a materialist view of the mind." This refers to the philosophical definition, suggesting the mind can be explained by physical processes.
* "The artist's work was characterized by its materiality and its attention to texture." Here, "materiality" refers to the materials used in the artwork, not necessarily a philosophy.
Ultimately, the meaning of "materialist" is dependent on its context.