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Dewey Aesthetic Thought

Posted on:2009-04-04Degree:DoctorType:Dissertation
Country:ChinaCandidate:X M XiaoFull Text:PDF
GTID:1117360245476901Subject:Education
Abstract/Summary:PDF Full Text Request
Although John Dewey is well-known in the field of Chinese education, the idea on aesthetic education as one of his bright ideas has not been systemically studied. This dissertation attempts to make a research on his idea on aesthetic education.As a philosopher and an educator born in right times, Dewey's idea on aesthetic education is both marked by American civilization and pregnant with revolt. His grand thought system shows the dominate features of American philosophy affected by American native culture and also exhibits the marks of heritance of European traditional ideas. The first chapter analyzes the times background and the influence of Darwin's evolution, Hegel's methodology, Santayana's naturalism aesthetics, James' psychology on Dewey's aesthetic education.Dewey's aesthetic education is a system, which has its own logic. First, Dewey answers the question of what is art. He expounds the nature of art. Second, Dewey answers the question of how art is generated by applying dynamic, continuing and unified dialectical approach and theories of psychology and sociology. Last, Dewey answers the question of what role art plays, that's to say, how art reforms society, inherits civilization and better human nature. Chapter 2 explains art is experience, the nucleus of Dewey's aesthetic education from the aspects, such as ontology, generation and function of art.Dewey is also an actor. In his life, he spreads and trains art seedlings with a group of enthusiastic members and practices his theory of aesthetic education in his Laboratory school. Chapter 3 trims the practice of aesthetic education in Dewey's times from such aspects as spreading aesthetic education activities, aesthetic education practice of Dewey School Barnes Foundation which applies Dewey's aesthetic education into practice.Dewey's idea on art impacts greatly on American art and has an important affect on American Art Bureau of that time. Chapter 4 discusses the influence of Dewey's aesthetic education on American art and art education, which includes the forerunners of Abstract Expressionism, direction of FAP, and founder of contemporary American art education.Chapter 5 expounds the spreading and influence of Dewey's aesthetic education in modern age and present age of China and believes that there is great room for people to understand and explain Dewey and that it needs time to prove the value of his thought from different appraises. Last but not least, this dissertation thinks that Dewey's aesthetic education is not perfect and it could not wholly satisfy our country and needs examining and borrowing critically.
Keywords/Search Tags:Dewey, art as experience, aesthetic education
PDF Full Text Request
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