The quality of being earthly; worldliness, materialism, or concern with physical and temporal matters rather than spiritual ones.
From 'earthly' plus the noun suffix '-ness.' Developed philosophical meaning contrasting earthly concerns with spiritual or divine pursuits.
Medieval theology wrestled with 'earthliness' as sin—attachment to material goods and pleasures—yet we now know asceticism itself can trigger dopamine patterns similar to addiction, suggesting the brain doesn't distinguish 'spiritual' from 'earthly' pursuits.
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