Author(s): Cai Leiluo
Pages: 3-7+23
Year: 2015 Issue:  3
Journal: Jiangxi Educational Research
Keyword:  aesthetic education; moral education; Cai Yuanpei; independent value;
Abstract: Cai Yuanpei is an active advocator and practitioner of China’s modern aesthetic education.Previous scholars simply regarded aesthetic education as a means to develop ethics,ignoring its independent value. In Cai’s view,aesthetic education is to cultivate temperament,develop lofty ethics,spice up life,and achieve noble ideals through appreciation of beauty. Beauty is universal,and thus can break people ’s preconceptions; Beauty is aloof,and thus can eliminate the stakes. Aesthetic education,therefore,has an independent value,with its effects on individuals and society mainly embodied in such three aspects as developing lofty ethics,bringing creativity and transforming social traditions.