A presente pesquisa, de natureza teórico-filosófica, argumenta descritivamente a teoria estética do filósofo americano John Dewey, em função do seu chamado \"princípio de continuidade\", próprio do sistema filosófico deweyano como um todo. Nessa empreitada, privilegiou-se o recorte da continuidade entre o estético e o científico, ou entre valor e investigação enquanto característica essencial de tal teoria estética. Na observação dos pressupostos filosóficos gerais do filósofo, verificou-se que sua estética se estabelece, necessariamente, em continuidade ao método experimental das ciências naturais, consolidando proposições características essenciais de sua teoria da arte: Dewey crê na supremacia da contingência do processo que é a própria natureza, contínua, cumulativa, em sentido amplo, o que justifica que o ideal deva deixar de ser contemplativo para se converter num instrumental operativo, ou seja, um método experimental em virtude do meio; assim sendo, a estética deweyana deve ser compreendida, principalmente, em seu caráter investigativo, ou seja, em continuidade à ciência; Dewey rejeita os dualismos filosóficos, a metafísica e a epistemologia tradicionais; logo, sua estética desconsidera igualmente qualquer \"transcendental\" ou \"transcendente\" em termos clássicos; portanto, a arte ou estética, seja ela ato expressivo ou cultura, se daria entre diversos ritmos contínuos, nunca dualistas ou hierárquicos, no sentido da busca de um ideal Absoluto. Segundo a estética de Dewey, o valor reside precisamente no ritmo próprio do processo por exemplo: entre tensão e harmonia, comum e extraordinário, real e ideal etc. Dessa articulação ativa entre os vários aspectos em continuidade é que surgiria o ato expressivo, pela experiência singular imaginativa, e a cultura como um todo, mediante a comunicação. / The present theoretical-philosophical research argues descriptively about the aesthetic theory of the american philosopher John Dewey, in regards to the principle of continuity\" within Dewey\'s philosophical system as a whole. Bearing that in mind, the continuity of the aesthetic and the scientific were focused, as well as value broadly conceived and knowledge viewed as a scientific approach, and as the essential feature of Dewey\'s aesthetic theory. Thus, through the observation of the philosophers general assumptions, it has been verified that his aesthetics is necessarily established in continuity with experimental methods of natural sciences, which consolidates a few of the essential features propositions of his art theory: Dewey\'s supreme belief in the contingent of the process, which is continuous, cumulative, and broadly conceived as nature itself, implies that the ideal must cease to be contemplative and thus become instrumental and operative, which means it should become an experimental method in virtue of the environment. Therefore: Dewey\'s aesthetics must be primarily understood within its investigative character, that is, in its continuity to science; Deweys rejection of traditional metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophical dualisms prevents any classical interpretation of \"transcendental\" or \"transcendent\". Therefore art or aesthetics, as acts of expression or culture, should be continuous to a diversity of rhythms, but never dualistic or hierarchical in the sense of any ideal in pursuit of the Absolute. According to Dewey\'s aesthetics, value resides precisely in the pace of the process itself, such as between tension and harmony, ordinary and extraordinary, real and ideal and so on. From this active articulation between all the aspects of continuity an expressive act would emerge, as the realm of a singular imaginative experience, and of culture as a whole, through communication.

Revision of Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Iowa, 1969. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [317]-330) and index.

This thesis will examine the practice of relational aesthetics as it involves the viewer, as well as the way in which it plays out within and outside of the institutional setting of the museum. I will focus primarily on two unique projects: that of The Machine Project Field Guide at Los Angeles County Museum of Art on November 15, 2008, produced by Machine Project, a social project operated out of a storefront gallery in Echo Park; and David Michalek's Slow Dancing at the Lincoln Center Festival in New York City, July 12-29 2007.

This thesis will examine the practice of relational aesthetics as it involves the viewer, as well as the way in which it plays out within and outside of the institutional setting of the museum. I will focus primarily on two unique projects: that of The Machine Project Field Guide at Los Angeles County Museum of Art on November 15, 2008, produced by Machine Project, a social project operated out of a storefront gallery in Echo Park; and David Michalek's Slow Dancing at the Lincoln Center Festival in New York City, July 12-29 2007.