Pragmatist Aesthetics - Classic Text | Alexandria
Pragmatist Aesthetics: A Somaesthetic Approach to Life and Art (1992) by Richard Shusterman stands as a groundbreaking philosophical work that revolutionized contemporary aesthetic theory by bridging the gap between analytical and continental philosophy while championing the role of bodily experience in artistic appreciation. Shusterman, an American pragmatist philosopher and the Dorothy F. Schmidt Eminent Scholar in the Humanities at Florida Atlantic University, crafted this seminal text as both a revival and reconstruction of John Dewey's aesthetic theory, while introducing his innovative concept of somaesthetics.
First published in the early 1990s, during a period of intense debate about postmodernism and the future of aesthetic theory, Pragmatist Aesthetics emerged at a crucial juncture in philosophical discourse. The book challenged the prevailing dichotomies between high and popular art, mind and body, and theory and practice that had dominated Western aesthetic thought. Shusterman's work drew upon his unique background as both a practicing Feldenkrais practitioner and an academic philosopher, lending unprecedented authenticity to his arguments about embodied experience.
The text's evolution and influence have been profound, spawning multiple editions and translations while catalyzing the development of somaesthetics as a distinct field of philosophical inquiry. Shusterman's integration of pragmatist philosophy with contemporary cultural criticism has influenced discussions ranging from hip-hop aesthetics to environmental design, while his emphasis on the body's role in aesthetic experience has resonated with emerging research in cognitive science and embodied cognition.
Today, Pragmatist Aesthetics continues to shape discussions about the relationship between art, body, and everyday life. Its legacy is evident in the growing interest in somatic practices, the legitimization of popular art forms in academic discourse, and the increasing attention paid to embodied experience in philosophical aesthetics. The work's enduring relevance raises intriguing questions about the future of aesthetic theory in an increasingly digital age, where the boundaries between physical and virtual experience become increasingly blurred, inviting readers to reconsider their own bodily engagement with art and life.