An Aesthetic Analysis Of Imagination

In the fields of art, aesthetics and philosophy, imagination is a very important category. Imagination in art, which has a distinct psychological shade, lays stress on the creative connotations in the course of creation and appreciation. However, imagination that aesthetics and philosophy follow with interest is more like a poetic wisdom and poetical living. Phenomenonism, existentialism, life-interpretationism all provide us with a theoretical fulcrum to think about imagination. Having an aid of a new theoretical view and method, we'll get a new understanding of imagination.The thesis is divided into three parts to discuss it. Part One: Traditional theory of imaginationIn the western aesthetic thought from Plato to Kant, in the different historical periods, different persons discussed imagination differently. But they all thought it as an aspect of knowing abilities, belonging to a low knowing form. In ancient China, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Luji and Liuxie interpreted imagination respectively at differentlevels. Their interpretations reserves theoretical resources for us to think about imagination again. Part Two: A new theoretical point of imaginationPhenomenonism's theory of intentionalty,existentialism, life-interpretationism bring us a new view and method, "Facing to thing itself" , freedom and creativity, meaning of life pour new connotations into imagination from different angles. Though the angles aredifferent, they all try to break degradation which traditional philosophy and aesthetics had, at the same time, promote the connotative richness of imagination, directly link it with living and freedom.Part Three: The aesthetic characteristics of imagination Stressing the opening of aesthetic realm, free life, defending spiritual homeland are all the aesthetic characteristics under the new theoretical view. Imagination will make us to break the limit of mind and thing in aesthetic activities, coming back to the unity of the man and the world. Free life is elevated in endless aesthetic realm, defending spiritual homeland.