論人的美感向度

The Aesthetic Dimension of Human Existence

本文主旨在於從美學的角度探討人的存在的意義與價值，首先指出美感與創作是每一個人天生本有的能力，而不是特殊天才專屬的奇才異稟。其次論述美感經驗對人存在的重要性，在於美感是人置身於世界的重要方式。第三，指出憑藉藝術與美感經驗的體悟，人才能獲得真正的自由與解放，從一己之私的偏狹欲望，和封閉於自我的欲望中獲得解放，因而得以優遊自在於任其存有的真實之境。最後，人居於世間，茫然度日，不曾真實存在，唯有居存以詩，才能真實存在。

The main objective of this article is to inquire the value and the meaning of human existence from the viewpoint of aesthetics. Its basic arguments consist in the following points: First, sense of beauty and power of creation are the inherent faculty of everyone, not the privileged talent of some special geniuses or prodigies. Second, the importance of aesthetic experience for human existence consists in the fact that sense of beauty is a precious way of being with oneself in the world. Third, through the contemplation of Art and Beauty, one could liberate him/herself from the enclosure of individual desires limited to the satisfaction of egoistic instincts. Aesthetic experience, different from experience of sense pleasure, could render human beings free in the spiritual horizon of letting-be. Fourth, human existence will be meaningless if it is wasted in daily life without experiencing the True Being. It is only when dwelling in a poetic way that he/she could have a chance to encounter with the True Being.