A Study Of Dewey's Ecological Aesthetics

Alexander believed that Dewey was one of the first people to have a clear ecological view of nature.At present,the academic research on Dewey's aesthetic thought is mainly manifested in the areas of Dewey's aesthetic empiricism and life aesthetics.This paper is devoted to sorting out Dewey's ecological aesthetic thought,in order to provide positive significance for the construction of ecological civilization and the development of ecological aesthetics in China.This paper is divided into four chapters to discuss Dewey's aesthetic thoughts:The first chapter discusses the theoretical source of Dewey's ecological aesthetics.There are mainly Darwin's evolution theory,Emerson's naturalism,and Hegel's holistic view.The second chapter discusses the philosophical foundation of Dewey's ecological aesthetics.This chapter clearly points out that "Ecology" is not only reflected in the single relationship between man and nature,but also in the multi-dimensional relationship between man and society,man and others,and man and self.Dewey realized the "re-enchantment" of the natural part,and only in this way can we truly revere the nature.Dewey advocated a democratic and equal relationship between human beings and others as well as the society.Only in the atmosphere of democracy and equality can individuals and the society achieve sustainable and harmonious development.Dewey believed that body and mind were an organic whole,and he opposed any form of separation of body and mind.The third chapter discusses Dewey's ecological aesthetics.Dewey's ecological aesthetics took the entire ecological system as its aesthetic object,and Dewey's "nature" continued to extend,including not only nature,but also human society.In Dewey's ecological aesthetics,the consciousness of the aesthetic subject was mainly discussed from three aspects: "homeland consciousness","poetic dwelling" and "be both virtuous and joyful".Dewey regarded human beings and nature as an inseparable unity and adhered to the aesthetic principles of ecological holism.He believed that when people are in the environment,their body and mind come from nature,and that nature is the home of human beings,which embodies the affinity between man and nature.Dewey's aesthetic experience was the result ofecological interaction between organism and environment,which reflected human's yearning and pursuit for harmony with nature and social ecology.The continuous emergence of aesthetic experience made people“dwelling poetically” on the vast land.Mencius believed that "joy follows the virtue",and only by enhancing our own moral accomplishment can we obtain a unique aesthetic experience in ecological aesthetics,while Dewey believed that ecological aesthetics and ecological ethics are unified.In the ecological aesthetics,the aesthetic subject can not only obtain the unique aesthetic pleasure,but also enhance our moral accomplishment,and the aesthetic subject can "be both virtuous and joyful".Finally,the ecological aesthetic process is discussed.Dewey's ecological aesthetic process embodies his practical view of ecological aesthetics.Dewey paid special attention to the resistance factors in the environment and the overcoming of the resistance,so as to realize the practical dimension of the balance and harmony between man and environment.Dewey's ecological aesthetics emphasized the participation of the body and the reconstruction of the body to the feeling,which restored the real life status of people.The fourth chapter discusses the practical expansion of Dewey's ecological aesthetics and its significance to the construction of ecological civilization.Professor Zeng Fanren,a famous eco-aesthetician in China,believes that eco-aesthetic education is an important part of eco-aesthetics.Although Dewey has never mentioned the term "ecological aesthetic education",the Chicago Experimental School he established can be said to be a typical demonstration base for ecological aesthetic education.Dewey's educational experience and aesthetic experience are in harmony with the inherent ecological implication.In this school,humans and nature,humans and others,and humans and themselves have achieved unprecedented harmony.Secondly,it discusses the significance of Dewey's ecological aesthetics to the construction of my country's ecological civilization and the construction of socialist harmony.