John Deweys Theory of Art

Thomas Alexander shows that the primary, guiding concern of Deweys philosophy is his theory of aesthetic experience. He directly challenges those critics, most notably Stephen Pepper and Benedetto Croce, who argued that this area is the least consistent part of Deweys thought.

The author demonstrates that the fundamental concept in Deweys system is that of "experience" and that paradigmatic treatment of experience is to be found in Deweys analysis of aesthetics and art. The confusions resulting from the neglect of this orientation have led to prolonged misunderstandings, eventual neglect, and unwarranted popularity for ideas at odds with the genuine thrust of Deweys philosophical concerns. By exposing the underlying aesthetic foundations of Deweys philosophy, Alexander aims to rectify many of these errors, generating a fruitful new interest in Dewey.