Practical Aesthetics In Historical Perspective

"Praxis" is an essential concept of the whole Marxism philosophy, aesthetics and contemporary Chinese practical aesthetics. An overall comprehension of Praxis and a historical perspective to Marx's practical concept in the entire practical philosophy progress will contribute to a more accurate grasp of Marxism philosophy and practical aesthetics. Only by integrating practice with the trends of globalization and modernization can we see the development and extension of practice in the new era and find the right cutting point for the development of practical aesthetics. Also only by excavating the development of the practical aesthetics in the new age can we better meet challenges for the practical aesthetics and make due theoretical contribution of the practical aesthetics to the contemporary Chinese aesthetics.The introduction states the meaning, rationale and the framework of the selected topic. Taking a historical perspective to practical aesthetics and praxis and considering them in the context of globalization and modernity will have great significance in constructing the contemporary Chinese practical aesthetics. Before reflecting on praxis, I first made the etymology recollection separately from East and West to "praxis", then pointed out praxis in this thesis is mainly in the sense of western philosophy and aesthetics.The main body of this thesis includes two parts. The topic of the first part is A Historical Study on Western Practical Concept and its Aesthetics Thought, including three chapters: the first chapter introduces western philosophy practical concept and its aesthetics thought in early time, the second is about practical concept and its aesthetics thought in German classical philosophy, and the third states contemporary practical concept and its aesthetics thought. Through introduction of the period ranging from the beginning of political praxis in early philosophy of ancient Greek to revival of modern practical philosophy, it can be seen that the connotation of praxis is not constant, but has experienced ongoing development. Aristotle's practical concept has laid down foundation for the western practice philosophy and has delimited the relatively clear theoretical boundary for it, affecting the development of practical philosophy. But Kant has attempted to restore the ancient Greek tradition of the practical philosophy, and has given brand-new explanation to some questions. He constructed the practical philosophy from rational itself and emphasized characteristic of "free" of practical reason. He related the praxis and the morals(morality character) and stipulated the praxis to "the moral", giving ontology sense to praxis. This change is a key step to the German classical philosophy and the entire western philosophy. Hegel critically inherited and developed diagnostic method thought of Kant, Fichte, and Schelling. Based on Fichte's thoughts about the motion and the practice thought and the English classical economists' statements about the labor, he instilled the diagnostic method principle in explaining and proving the practical concept, and thus made a penetrating summary to essence and process of praxis and made a profound elaboration on the dialectical relationship between the praxis and the theory. The contemporary western philosophy has witnessed the revival of the practical philosophy, which is not a revival to the Aristotle type practical philosophy, but elaborates on questions related with practical philosophy, such as the living world, daily life praxis, the words practice and so on .The contemporary western practical concept, different from traditional ancient Greek practical philosophy that concerns ethic public politics activity and the material production work with the aim to conquer and transform the nature in the modern times, refers to survival practice centered on individuals as well as life practice in the daily life.The second part is The Construction of Marx's Practical concept and Contemporary Chinese Practical Aesthetics. It has three chapters: the fourth chapter is about Marx's practical concept and its aesthetics thought, the fifth is about practical aesthetics, and the sixth, new practical aesthetics. Marx has subverted the world view of traditional philosophy, constructs the scientific practical materialism, which is the most scientific and profound summary of practical concept in history. However, his knowledge to praxis was not accomplished in one move, but has experienced processes from shallow to deep, from immature to perfect. Marx and Engels' understanding of praxis may be roughly divided into three stages: the preparation period of practical concept - practical concept in the theory and critique sense; the period of formation - the propose of practical concept to its maturing process; the period of maturity - basic formation of scientific practice view.The practical aesthetics born and growing in debates is an aesthetic school, which takes Marx's practical concept as the philosophy foundation. We roughly divide the practical aesthetics into four stages: the establishment stage (1950s-1960s) - the development stage (1980s - 1990s)) - the polemic and recent development stage (after 1990s) - the future development: the expansion of new practical aesthetics. After brief historical review, the paper pointed out Jiang Kongyang's practical aesthetics is different from Li Zehou's new practical aesthetics. The former's aesthetics thought tries hard to break through the practical aesthetics under traditional epistemology frame, overcomes the weakness of dichotomy of subjectivity and objectivity and contains existentialism. Practical aesthetics in the new century should develop further along this mentality. In 21st century, faced with new historical environment and challenge for Chinese contemporary aesthetics, we cannot be satisfied with the existing research fruit. As to the practical aesthetics, we certainly disagree with the viewpoint of "transcendentalism" scholars that practical aesthetics no longer has any academic value and should be withdraw from the academic stage. In our opinion, practical aesthetics itself is an open theoretical system which has strong theory vigor, and can continue with Jiang Kongyang's new practical aesthetics mentality to relate the practical aesthetics research with the real life. It is not difficult to discover that modernity and globalization have constituted two big unavoidable latitudes no matter it is in theory or in reality. So there are two chapters elaborating on the relation between modernity, globalization and the new practical aesthetics.In the conclusion part, it is emphasized once more that only by observing and comparing the praxis and practical aesthetics in the historical field of vision can we grasp their connotation well. The connotation of practice, which is not constant, has experienced ongoing development. During the process from general reference to the life object activity, to specific political ethic behavior of aristocrat social stratum; from practical concept in theology to that in epistemology; from the understanding of praxis from moral perspective to interpretation of praxis in terms of social relationships; from introducing the diagnostic method to analysis of praxis to transforming praxis with survivalism, the connotation of practice is being increasingly enriched from different angles. We are more willing to see praxis and the practical aesthetics that are developing and open. Let's study them from a historical and development perspective rather than prematurely announce their end.