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 west wind spread from the east, our country's political disasters have followed each other. To this day, the Chinese people generally have insufficient understanding of democracy and freedom. In contrast, the development of democracy in Western countries is relatively stable. One of the reasons is that Western political thought is more suitable for modern life. Based on the principle of supporting the disadvantaged, Westerners drive courteously to pedestrians and do not occupy disabled parking spaces. On the other hand, based on the tradition of protecting elites, the vast majority of countries maintain the impure democracy cherished by Madison and others, that is, the representative democracy system (Westminster model).
If we want to end Taiwan's democratic chaos, it is crucial to explore Western normative discourses, which try to deal with the relationship between man and nature; man and man; and man and himself, to help us adapt to the environment. As the soul of all things, people know how to shape social organizations, manage social life, ensure survival and improve the quality of life. Exploring Western political thought can enable us to understand problems, solve problems, and shape desirable values.
At different historical stages, people have different awareness of problems and different solutions. For example, ancient Greece took slavery for granted, medieval Europe valued the rights and obligations between lords and vassals, and contemporary Western countries have to take into account the different needs of employers and salaried classes. Therefore, the study of political thought cannot be separated from the corresponding time and space environment.
From this perspective, there are important differences between politics and the natural sciences. Natural science emphasizes the objectivity of research. When Galileo observed that a ball rolled down a slope, his presence or absence did not change that fact. In contrast, no thinker can reach the point of being value free. This course discussion will provide us with abundant examples.
胡祖慶, 西洋政治思想史, 台北: 雙葉, 2012.
Hu Zuqing, History of Western Political Thought, Taipei: Shuangye, 2012.
| 評分項目 Grading Method | 配分比例 Grading percentage | 說明 Description |
|---|---|---|
| 期中考期中考 midterm exam |
50 | |
| 期末考期末考 final exam |
50 |
