美学:爱美之学——从辞源学的角度为美学正名

美学与审美学是两个存在差异的学术范畴,由于西语只有aesthetics一个术语,致使长期以来二者混淆在一起。为了厘清二者的边界,为美学的复兴开辟道路,为美学正名成为当务之急。学界通常所谓的aesthetics("美学")其实是"审美学","美学"应该另有其名。两百年来,美学家为"美学"创造了多个名字,其中以callology最为恰当。但是,真正最为恰切精当的"美学"一词是源自古希腊的philocaly(爱美之学)。

On the Term of Philocaly

Meixue(美学) and Shenmeixue(审美学) are of two different categories.Because there is only one word,aesthetics,in the western languages,it leads the two mixed up in the long haul.In order to make clear the boundaries between the two and to open up its way for the renaissance of philocaly,seeking a right term for it has become urgent.In the academic fields,so-called"Meixue"(aesthetics) factually is "Shenmeixue"."Meixue"should have another name,its own name.In the past two centuries,estheticians have created many names for "Meixue",the most appropriate one of which was callology.But in my opinion,the most appropriate name for "Meixue"is philocaly,a word which stems from ancient Greek.