Modes of Experience: Everyday Aesthetics Between Erlebnis and Erfahrung

Abstract

This paper focuses on the notion of experience, whose conceptual analysis seems to be often neglected or at least not sufficiently made explicit in the current discourse on Everyday Aesthetics. In our investigation this notion will be tackled, in particular, through the lens of such concepts as Erlebnis, Erfahrung, and Lebenswelt, which are drawn from the continental philosophical tradition. Purpose of the paper is to present a provisional framework aimed at clarifying that a more accurate conceptualization of experience allows for a better contemporary reflection on the aesthetics of everyday life.

Keywords

• aesthetic experience
• erlebnis
• erfahrung
• lebenswelt
• everydayness