John Dewey's Pragmatist Philosophy of Art and Experience Revisited
Two recently published French translations of John Dewey's writings, 'Expérience et nature' (1925) and 'L'Art comme expérience' (1934), highlight his pragmatist philosophy, which centers on experience as a form of interaction. Dewey, who passed away in 1952, has often been regarded mainly as an educator, largely due to the early translations of 'How We Think' (1925). The latest editions, following the 2005 Folio release of 'Art as Experience', showcase his extensive influence. Dewey characterizes experience as an exploration to reveal outcomes, asserting it encompasses 'doing, suffering, and undergoing'. He criticizes museums for detaching artworks from their contexts and identifies aesthetic experiences in daily life. His thoughts have impacted artists like Allan Kaprow and Robert Smithson, and his 'learning by doing' approach is experiencing a revival.
Key facts
- John Dewey died in 1952 at age 93.
- His first French translation was 'Comment nous pensons' (1925) by Ovide Decroly.
- 'Expérience et nature' was published in 1925.
- 'L'Art comme expérience' was first published in French in 2005.
- Dewey's pragmatism is associated with Charles Sanders Peirce and William James.
- He defines experience as interaction and transaction.
- Dewey opposed the epistemological rupture between ordinary and scientific knowledge.
- He criticized museums for isolating artworks from their context.
Entities
Artists
- John Dewey
- Allan Kaprow
- Robert Smithson
- Richard Long
- Ovide Decroly
- Charles Sanders Peirce
- William James
- Roger Bacon
- Francis Bacon
- Immanuel Kant
- Charles Darwin
- Pierre Bourdieu
Institutions
- Gallimard
- Folio
- Université de Pau
- Éditions Farrago
- artpress
Locations
- France
- United States