Classic Topic，New Approach，and Unresolved Issue in Aesthetic Transformation：Three Questions on “Intermediary Aesthetics”

Wang Yaochong proposes the“Intermediary Aesthetics”in response to the current decline in aesthetics， which originates from the “classic topic” of aesthetic transformation. The unique position of aesthetics in modern social life has rendered it a symptom in the history of thought. This not only results in the failure of art to have independent territory in Kantian philosophy and thus Hegel’s claim to“The End of Art，”but also unveils the absence of aesthetics in critical theory after Habermas. The reason behind this is closely related to the longstanding paradigm shift in theories of modernity from subjectivity to intersubjectivity. When considered in the context of the intellectual history between Kant and Hegel，it is easily discernible that the“new approach”of Intermediary Aesthetics combines the strengths of both Kant and Hegel. By reconstructing the theory of modernity，Intermediary Aesthetics commits itself to integrating the issues of complexity and legitimacy in modern society. Arguably， Intermediary Aesthetics not only follows the logic of continuous differentiation in various fields of modern society，it also endows modern society with meaning as a whole. This requires that aesthetics change its traditional position and emphasize the interaction between nature and history. The so-called“natural-historical space”refers to a field in which Intermediary Aesthetics can apply its new approach，wherein the dual medium is subject to perceived constraints and articulates ideas at the same time. By this token，Intermediary Aesthetics can be seen as a philosophy of the in-betweenness of media，but as a“new［methodological］approach，”it also raises an unresolved issue： On the one hand， Intermediary Aesthetics is committed to establishing the intellectual coordinates of media，while on the other hand，it continues to stubbornly identify itself with aesthetics. Can Intermediary Aesthetics be considered as aesthetics? This indicates that Intermediary Aesthetics，as a new approach closely related to modernity theory，has not yet provided a matched philosophy of history to clarify its historical position.