Paul Crowther argues that the study of aesthetics in the 20th century has faced a fundamental problem,where re-searchers have been unable to fairly treat the diversity of aesthetic responses,leading to constant questioning of the unique boundaries of the aesthetic domain.To address this issue,he has emphasized that aesthetic research must shift from analyzing the commonalities of aesthetic responses to clarifying the differences in aesthetic responses.As a formalist,he has first pointed out that the commonality of aesthetic responses is a focus on form and defined and explained the concept and structure of"formal qualities",which serves as the basis for clarifying the differences in aesthetic responses;then,he has linked the concept of for-mal qualities with the concept of logical disinterestedness,thereby clarifying the diversity of aesthetic responses,which includes absolute disinterested appreciation and relative disinterested appreciation models.In response to the criticism of formalism by Marshall Cohen and George Dickey,Crowther reiterates that absolute unutilitarian appreciation is the basis for distinguishing other areas of human experience from aesthetic areas by not assuming any practical meaning of the work.Thus,Crowther is able to defend the unique status of the aesthetic domain in the realm of human experience,and provide a possible explanation for de-limiting the boundaries of the aesthetic domain,therefore demonstrate the important value of contemporary Western formalist aesthetics research.
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