西風東漸以來，我國政治禍亂相循，直到今天，國人對於民主自由的認識普遍不足。相形之下，西方國家民主發展較為穩定，原因之一是西方政治思想比較適合現代生活。基於扶持弱勢原則，西方民眾開車禮讓行人，不會占用殘障車位。另一方面，基於保障菁英傳統，絕大多數國家維持麥迪遜等人珍視的不純粹民主（impure democracy），也就是代議民主體制（Westminster model）。

要想終結台灣民主亂象，探討西方規範性論述至為重要，相關論述試圖處理人與自然；人與人；以及人與自我之間的關係，幫助我們適應環境。做為萬物之靈，人們懂得形塑社會組織，經營社會生活，保障生存和提高生活品質。探討西方政治思想能夠讓我們瞭解問題，解決問題，形塑可欲價值。

在不同歷史階段，人們問題意識並不一樣，設想的解決手段也有所差異。例如，古希臘將奴隸制度視為理所當然，中世紀歐洲重視領主和附庸間的權利義務關係，當代西方國家得顧及雇主及受薪階級的不同需求。因此，研究政治思想不能脫離相對應的時空環境。

從這個角度來看，政治和自然科學之間存在重要差異。自然科學強調研究的客觀性。當伽利略觀察到球會順著斜坡往下滾的時候，有沒有他的存在都不會改變這項事實。相對地，沒有任何思想家能夠達到價值中立（value free）地步。本課程探討將提供我們豐富例證。

Since the beginning of the East China Sea, our country's politics has been in harmony. Until today, the Chinese have generally lacked their understanding of democracy and freedom. In contrast, the democratic development of Western countries is more stable, because one of the reasons is that Western political thought is more suitable for modern life. Based on the principle of supporting weak people, Western people have opened a car to allow pedestrians to avoid occupying barrier car seats. On the other hand, in order to ensure the elite tradition, most countries maintain impure democracy, which is cherished by MacDon and others, that is, Westminster model.

To end Taiwan’s democratic affair, it is important to explore Western rule-based arguments. Related arguments are treated by the relationship between humans and nature, man and man, and the self, and help us adapt to the environment. As the spirit of all things, people know how to shape social organizations, run social life, ensure survival and improve quality of life. Exploring Western political thoughts can allow us to understand, solve problems, and shape the desirable value.

In different historical stages, people have different ideas about problems and the solutions they think are different. For example, ancient Greeks took the slave system for granted, and medieval Europe valued the rights relations between leaders and vassals, and contemporary Western countries had different needs of employers and salaried levels. Therefore, studying political thought cannot deviate from the corresponding time and space environment.

From this perspective, there are important differences between politics and natural sciences. Natural science emphasizes the objectivity of research. When Galileo observed that the ball would roll down the slope, neither his existence would change this. Relatively, no thinker can achieve value free. This course discussion will provide us with rich examples.

胡祖慶, 西洋政治思想史, 台北: 雙葉, 2012.

Hu Zuqing, History of Western Political Thought, Taipei: Double Ye, 2012.