本文旨在揭開叔本華美學的核心內容：凝視理論及其鋪展出的藝術系統。第一章說明論述動機與方式。第二章指出凝視理論的產生背景、美學意圖，尤其探討從凝視的理念世界過渡到藝術之間的問題。第三章整合叔本華論建築、園藝、雕刻、繪畫和詩的內涵，包括他建立藝術系統、區分藝術等級的原則。第四章討論爲何音樂被叔本華放在藝術系統之外，以及音樂論述的特徵。
最後發現，叔本華形而上藝術學所開展出來的三種視野（認識力觀點、超脫觀點與表現觀），其實背後有著更高層的關懷目標：「存在」（existence）問題。這個「存在問題」，指的便是意志自身貪得無饜之專橫：存在是苦難和痛苦之同義詞。而藝術的角色，便是在凝視瞬間拋離意志，讓我們遠離現實痛苦、越出宰制，瞥見另一種存在可能。
叔本華、凝視 、理念 、藝術系統
This essay discusses the essence of Schopenhauer's esthetics: his theory of contemplation and the system ofart developed from the theory. The first chapter explains the motives ofthe study and the methods applied for the analysis. The second chapter points out the background and intention of the theory of contemplation, especially focusing on issues that bridge the ideology of contemplation and art. The third chapter discusses Schopenhauer's insights on architecture, gardening, sculpture, painting, and poetry from his principles of constructing the system and categories of art. The fourth chapter explains why music is excluded from Schopenhauer's system of art with a discussion on the characteristics of theory on music.
It is found that the three visions extended from the metaphysics of art developed by Schopenhauer, namely, vision cognitive, vision of detachment, and vision expressive, have a higher goal behind. This goal is "existence". For him, "existence" means the greediness of will-in-itself. Existence is the synonym of pain and suffers. And the role of art is help one detach from the will at the moment of contemplation. It allows one to see another possibility of existence as one is away from the pain and control of reality .
Schopenhauer, contemplation, Ideas, system of Arts
