[译者注:本文是作者柯提斯·卡特(Curtis Carter)应邀为门罗·比厄斯利的《美学:从古希腊到现代》(中译本取名为“西方美学简史”)一书所写的续篇。从1966年门罗·比厄斯利的这本美学史付印以来,又是两代人的时间过去了。这一段时间里,无论是美国美学界,还是欧洲美学界,都出现了众多的美学家和多种美学学派。怎样使美学的最新发展进入中国学生的视野?最好的办法,还是续写一篇,专讲这40年。将历史写到当代,这是最难的事,但对学生来说,这种历史著作也最有用。通过一本书从古代走向当代,不由于写作当代史的困 [Translator’s Note: This article was authored by Curtis Carter as Monroe Biesley’s Aesthetics: From Ancient Greece to the Modern (translated as “A Brief History of Western Aesthetics” ) Sequel to a book. Two decades have passed since Monroe Biesley’s 1966 aesthetic history was printed. During this period, many American aesthetics and many kinds of aesthetics appeared in both American aesthetic circle and European aesthetic circle. How to make the latest development of aesthetics into the eyes of Chinese students? The best way, or write an article, specifically about these 40 years. It is the hardest thing to write history to the present, but it is also most useful to students. Through a book from ancient to contemporary, not due to writing the trap of contemporary history