Abstract: There are two ideas about the legitimacy of aesthetics as a discipline. Aesthetics of Elimination claims that beauty is an a prior super-concept which, absent of a corresponding super-reality, falls into the abyss of metaphysical essentialism. Hence, aesthetics is not a legitimate discipline. Metaphysical Aesthetics holds that beauty should be interpreted through Kantian purposiveness of aesthetics and claims the legitimacy of the discipline of aesthetics in its ideal-confirming value. This paper argues that metaphysical aesthetics, due to its theoretically self-enclosed nature, cannot allow aesthetic activities to take on realistic transcendent value. Aesthetics of Elimination, however, has its own major problem. While it correctly points out the illusionary nature of super-concept, it has failed to fully acknowledge its value of purposiveness. Between the two ideas in question, there is certainly a common ground, which is to take beauty as an action of art. This action, this paper concludes, not only contains transcendent value but also carries with it the mortal body of everyday life.

Key words: action of art, aesthetics of life, transcendence, mortal body