Introduction to Ecological Aesthetics

Fanren Zeng

Aug 2019 · Springer Nature

About this ebook

​This book explores in detail the issues of ecological civilization development, ecological philosophy, ecological criticism, environmental aesthetics, and the ecological wisdom of traditional Chinese culture related to ecological aesthetics. Drawing on Western philosophy and aesthetics, it proposes and demonstrates a unique aesthetic view of ecological ontology in the field of aesthetics under the direct influence of Marxism, which is based on the modern economic, social cultural development and the modern values of traditional Chinese culture.This book embodies the innovative interpretation of Chinese traditional culture in the Chinese academic community. The author discusses the philosophical and cultural resources that can be used for reference in Chinese and Western cultural tradition, focusing on traditional Chinese Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism and painting art, Western modern ecological philosophy, Heidegger's ontology ecological aesthetics, and British and American environmental aesthetics.In short, the book comprehensively discusses the author's concept of ecological ontology aesthetics as an integration and unification of ontology aesthetics and ecological aesthetics. This generalized ecological aesthetics explores the relationship between humans and nature, society and itself, guided by the brand-new ecological worldview in the post-modern context. It also changes the non-beauty state of human existence and establishes an aesthetic existence state that conforms to ecological laws.

About the author

Fanren Zeng, male, was born in January 1941 in Jing County, Anhui Province. In 1959, he was admitted to the Chinese Department of Shandong University. In September 1964, he graduated and taught at the university. He used to be the president of Shandong University. He is currently the director, professor and doctoral supervisor of the Center for Literary and Artistic Studies of Shandong University, member of the Disciplinary Review Group of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, Vice President of Aesthetic Education Research Association of the China Higher Education Association, member of the Chinese Writers Association, executive director and other positions in Chinese and Foreign Academy of Literary and Art Theories. Professor Fanren Zeng has long been engaged in the teaching and research of aesthetics, literary theory, Western aesthetic history, aesthetic education, etc. He made great efforts and had outstanding achievements especially in the history of Western aesthetics, aesthetic education and other aspects. In the study of Western aesthetic history, the published academic monographs include A Brief Introduction to Western Aesthetics and won the second prize of Shandong Province Social Science Achievements. The Outline of Western Aesthetics won the second prize of Shandong Province Social Science Achievements and the Outstanding Book Award of North China. He was also editor-in-chief of Modern Western Aesthetic Thoughts and won the second prize of East China Literature and Art Books; in the field of aesthetic education research, monographs such as Ten Lectures on Aesthetic Education and New Theory on Aesthetic Education have been published. In addition, he also participated in the preparation of textbooks for liberal arts in national colleges and universities, Classic Course of Western Literature and Art Theory. He published nearly 100 academic papers in important academic journals across the country, the main paper On Art by Kant (Commercial Press, Foreign Aesthetics, 2nd Series, published in April 1986),On the Essence of Aesthetic Education (Wen Shizhe, 1985, 1), On the Modern Significance of Aesthetic Education (Journal of Shandong University, No. 4, 1999), Towards the Aesthetic Education in the 21st Century (Shaanxi Normal University Press, in October 2000), The Birth and Development of Chinese Literary Aesthetics (The Review of Literature and Art, No. 5, 2001), China's Aesthetic Education at the Forefront of Society and Science (The Study of Literature and Art, No. 2, 2001) has aroused great repercussions in the academic world. He is now working on the history of Chinese and foreign aesthetic education and modern aesthetic education.