Richard Shusterman's Somaesthetics: A New Philosophy of the Body
In 'Conscience du corps. Pour une soma-esthétique' (Éditions de L'Éclat), Richard Shusterman introduces a fresh philosophical perspective on the body, emphasizing its everyday condition. The term 'soma-esthétique,' as defined in the subtitle, refers to the critical examination of bodily experiences and aesthetic appreciation. Shusterman distinguishes his pragmatist aesthetics from pathological interpretations, drawing on the works of John Dewey and Pierre Bourdieu, the latter of whom he edited a critical reader for in 1999. He posits that bodily awareness is both experienced and scrutinized, shaped by influences such as the Feldenkrais method and Eastern philosophies. Additionally, the book critiques thinkers like Michel Foucault and Simone de Beauvoir, aiming to create a somatic approach that enriches bodily experience while positioning somaesthetics as an all-encompassing aesthetic framework.
Key facts
- Richard Shusterman's book 'Conscience du corps. Pour une soma-esthétique' was published by Éditions de L'Éclat.
- The book introduces the concept of somaesthetics: the ameliorative and critical study of the experience and use of the body.
- Shusterman focuses on the body in its normal, everyday state rather than extreme or pathological conditions.
- The author draws on John Dewey's aesthetics and Pierre Bourdieu's critical theory.
- Shusterman's practice of the Feldenkrais method and study of Eastern philosophy influenced his thinking.
- The book analyzes somatic approaches in the works of Foucault, Merleau-Ponty, Dewey, Wittgenstein, James, and Beauvoir.
- Simone de Beauvoir's thought is used to incorporate difference (gender, aging) into bodily experience.
- The book aims to provide a somatic method for improving bodily experience without reducing it to self-help.
Entities
Artists
- Richard Shusterman
Institutions
- Éditions de L'Éclat
- Oxford University Press
Sources
- artpress —