A Study On Richard Shusterman’s Aesthetics

As the leading figure of the American new generation of neo-pragmatism, Richard Shusterman occupies an important place in the study of philosophy, aesthetics, culture and art, etc. The renaissance of pragmatism is the necessity of historical development, also the historical appeal of postmodern culture, based on which Richard Shusterman restudied aesthetic experience, art, aesthetics and philosophy, hence provide us with a more scientific and comprehensive view to research the recently aesthetic phenomenon.Shusterman’s aesthetics is the result of a number of factors. Theories have changed in the context of postmodern culture. We have to reconsideration some aesthetic propositions. Popular arts have challenged the traditional concepts about art, philosophy and aesthetics. Some researchers insist that art has come to an end. Faced with these issues, we have to rethink on these problems. What Shusterman have done is dealing with these argumentsWe can research Shusterman’s pragmatist aesthetics from three aspects: pragmatism, daily life and body. Shusterman criticized John Dewey’ and Richard Rorty’s theories, to construct his new generation neo-pragmatism which concludes experience, body, explanation and organic unity, etc. Shusterman discussed popular arts such as Rap to redefine art. The research on the relationship between daily life and arts is another important aspect of Shusterman’s theory. We can consider and rethink the issues about’ the aestheticization of everyday life’, urban esthetics and some other aesthetic phenomenon. Somaesthetics is the most important aspect of Shusterman’s theory, based on which we can research classical Chinese philosophy from a new starting point. Also we can research Shusterman’s pragmatism in the use of our domestic theoretical resources.In general, Shusterman’s aesthetics is full of vitality and explanatory power. On the one hand, we can get some theories of resources from Shusterman; on the other hand, we should expand and research pragmatic aesthetics further more.