Abstract

Max Weber argues that secularization of the ascetic spirit mainly imposed by the reformed ethic stimulated the naissance of the western capitalism.The capitalism’s industrialized mass－production yielded two related issues：exploitation and dissimilation.The social revolution was advocated by the radical Marxian ideological theorists to approach problems derived from it.Meanwhile，the Arts and Crafts Movement led by William Morris was born due to the anxiety over badly－designed industrial objects by progressive design theorists and practitioners.In terms of Kantian theories，the Arts and Crafts Movement encompasses three abundant and complex facets，i.e.，aesthetics，ethical morality and technology.

The three competitive forces of Ar t Nouveau，Russian Construc tivism and German Deutscher Werkbund，have obtained plentiful achievements in aesthetics，social ethics and scientific technology respectively.It is Bauhaus who merged the three competitive forces into the comprehensive probe into art design by means of theories of standardized production，rationalism，functionalism and machine aesthetics.

1950s witnessed the entry of the affluent industrialized societies into the western countries.The tension between capitalism and communism foresaw the conclusion of ideology and implied the start of the new social phenomenon in the post－indust rial society：the white－collared middle class exerted a dominant role in the society.The religious sanction from the asceticism spirit waned with the advent of consumerism and gastronomy.Reflections on Functionalism and Rationalism were implemented in the art design.Hereby，the post－modernism arises.

Modernism centered on anthropocentrism，rationalism and scientific traditions as well as machine aesthetics and industrialized mass－production.Meanwhile，modernism ignored the abundant aesthetic facets.The later era of modernism discerned the dull and tedious International Style.Post－modernism possesses the characteristics of anti－rationalism，diversified aesthetic tastes and pluralized styles.

Apart from the appreciation of the artistic“spirit of age”，the post－modernism is primarily characterized by the active sought of eclecticism，ergonomic engineering and ecological design，et c.The mastery of the essence of thoughts and the t rends of western art design enables us to span a wide spec t rum of art design so as to efficiently beautify the human being’s life.