“美是意象”探蠡

An Analysis of“Beauty is Imagery”

形而下的审美现象描述和审美经验的归纳尽管越来越成为美学研究的重要内容,但对“美的本体”进行深入思考依然是美学学科不容忽视的命题。“意象是美的”不等于“美就是意象”,前者为归纳,是从个别到共相;后者为下定义,是对共相的抽象概括。“意象”与“意境”的关系问题,乃“意象”与“美”的关系问题的外延,两者追求的审美向度不同,内涵不同,审美效果也不同,故不属于同一层级,不可视作“美”的一体两面,也非形神关系;“意境”依凭又跃出“意象”的关系,从另一维度动摇了“美是意象”的观点。

Although the description of metaphysical aesthetic phenomena and the induction of aesthetic experience have become more and more important content of aesthetic research,in-depth thinking on“the foundation of beauty”is still a proposition that cannot be ignored in aesthetics.The proposition that“imagery is beautiful”does not mean“beauty is imagery”.The former is an induction from individual to commonality,while the latter is a definition,an abstract summary of commonality.The relationship between“imagery”and“artistic conception”is an extension of the relationship between“imagery”and“beauty”.The two pursue different aesthetics dimensions,different connotations,and different aesthetic effects,so they do not belong to the same level.They should not be regarded as the two sides of“beauty”,nor is the relationship between form and spirit.“Artistic conception”is inseparable from“imagery”and at the same time transcends“imagery”,which shakes the view that“beauty is imagery”from another dimension.