On John Dewey's Esthetic Experience Theory

John Dewey is philosopher, educator and esthetician of the United States and the representative of pragmatism philosophy. In recent years, along with the comedown of analytical esthetics, his esthetic theory draws people's attention gradually. Esthetic experience theory is the core of Dewey's esthetics. In his whole theory system, it inherits pragmatism philosophy and causes related art theory. This paper analyzes esthetic experience of Dewey.This paper is divided into five parts:Preface: A brief introduction of Dewey's life and works. It generalizes present condition and the shortage of research of Dewey's theory, and points out the method of writing.Part one: Philosophy foundation of Dewey's esthetic experience theory. Esthetic experience of Dewey establish on the pragmatism philosophy. Only comprehend that experience can understand esthetic experience. The experience of Dewey's philosophy is a kind of behavior. It is interaction of organism and other factors in the environment and a whole in which experiential object and experiential way are mutually unified. In a word, experience equals a life.Part two: Connotation of Dewey's esthetic experience theory. There are three part of the concept. Esthetic experience derives from daily experience in which the balance of organism and surroundings environment lose and re- get. An experience is complete daily experience and experience with esthetic property. Esthetic experience is to concentrate and enhance an experience, and esthetic property occupies predominant position. In the esthetic experience, result act on process, part unify whole, and means contain purpose. The esthetic theory resumes continuity of esthetic experience and daily experience.Part three: Characteristics of Dewey's esthetic experience theory. It includes whole and utility. The whole means interaction of main body and object form inside contact and constitute one unified whole in esthetic experience. Esthetic property comes form the whole. The utility means esthetic experience has desire and need of body and has a matter with the existence of object.Part four: Dewey's esthetic experience theory is consistent with art. The art is a kind of esthetic experience and originates from life. Art have continuity with daily life and practical art.Part five: Appraisal of Dewey's esthetic experience theory. It is explained from positive and negative aspects. Dewey's theory makes research of esthetic experience more perfects and provides important basis for daily life turning to art. However it lacks the ability of explaining art and makes art have no boundary.Conclusion: The prospect of Dewey's esthetic experience theory.