本課程屬哲學系「社會與政治」模組課程，旨在以「哲學」為出發點，思考與探討「民主」為何、民主的發展和危機，以及當代資本主義與全球化對民主帶來的挑戰及社會問題，嘗試從哲學思考的角度尋求解決之道。

課程所設定的對象為哲學系日間部大二至大四學生，在符合本系「理論與實踐兼顧」宗旨及模組精神的前提底下，從哲學經典文本到當代具體問題、在哲學與政治經濟學間，以跨領域的方式探討相關議題。首先，我們將從古希臘的城邦政治談起，回顧孕育出西方哲學與民主的雅典體制，其「雅典式民主」的特色為何，以及柏拉圖對雅典民主的批判；接著從亞里斯多德的觀點看其對雅典及諸政治體制的評價。再來，我們將焦點放到近、現代民主國家的興起，討論從羅馬帝國的興亡到中世紀基督宗教的介入，以及現代民主理論的成形，並聚焦在對現代民主貢獻甚鉅的盧梭，從其對文明與不平等的看法預見當代政治的難題。最後，我們要把眼光拉回到當代，從戰後民主與資本主義的發展，乃至經貿自由、全球化所引發的各種不平等、金融風暴等經濟、社會問題，及這些問題所導致的政治反響，實際對當今世界所面臨的各種問題有所認識，並嘗試運用哲學思考提出回應。

本課程所涉及的主題雖廣，但期望藉由此種全景式的精要討論，能拓展修課學生的視野及國際觀，從哲學文本中體會到哲學家對現世問題的熱忱，效法哲學家的精神，將哲學思想用在自身所面對的現代世界中，讓哲學真正「活過來」。

This course is part of the "Society and Politics" module course of the Department of Philosophy. It aims to use "philosophy" as the starting point to think and explore what "democracy" is, the development and crisis of democracy, as well as the challenges and social problems brought to democracy by contemporary capitalism and globalization, and try to find solutions from the perspective of philosophical thinking.

The course is targeted at sophomores to seniors in the day department of the Department of Philosophy. In line with the department's purpose of "balancing theory and practice" and the spirit of the module, the course explores relevant issues in a cross-field manner, from philosophical classic texts to contemporary specific issues, between philosophy and political economics. First, we will start with the city-state politics of ancient Greece, review the Athenian system that gave birth to Western philosophy and democracy, what are the characteristics of its "Athenian democracy", and Plato's criticism of Athenian democracy; then we will look at Aristotle's evaluation of Athens and other political systems from Aristotle's point of view. Next, we will focus on the rise of modern democratic countries, discussing everything from the rise and fall of the Roman Empire to the intervention of Christianity in the Middle Ages, as well as the formation of modern democratic theory. We will also focus on Rousseau, who made great contributions to modern democracy, and foresee the problems of contemporary politics from his views on civilization and inequality. Finally, we need to draw our gaze back to contemporary times, from the development of post-war democracy and capitalism to economic and social problems such as economic and trade freedom, various inequalities, and financial crises caused by globalization, as well as the political repercussions caused by these problems, to actually understand the various problems facing the world today, and try to use philosophical thinking to provide responses.

Although this course covers a wide range of topics, we hope that through this panoramic and essential discussion, students can expand their horizons and international outlook, experience philosophers' enthusiasm for contemporary issues from philosophical texts, imitate the spirit of philosophers, and apply philosophical ideas to the modern world they face, so that philosophy can truly "come alive."

原典主要參考版本：
柏拉圖（Plato）（1997）《理想國》。郭斌和、張竹明 譯。北京：商務印書館。
柏拉圖（2002）《柏拉圖全集．第1卷》。王曉朝 譯。北京：人民出版社。
柏拉圖（2003）《柏拉圖全集．第2卷》。王曉朝 譯。北京：人民出版社。
亞里斯多德（Aristotle）（1997）《政治學》。吳壽彭 譯。北京：商務印書館。
亞里斯多德（1999）《雅典政制》。日知、力野 譯。北京：商務印書館。
盧梭（Jean-Jacques Rousseau）（1986）《論人類不平等的起源和基礎》。李常山譯。台北：唐山出版社。
盧梭（1997）《論科學與藝術》。何兆武 譯。北京：商務印書館。
盧梭（1997）《社會契約論》。何兆武 譯。北京：商務印書館。
盧梭（1999）《愛彌兒 論教育》。李平漚 譯。北京：商務印書館。
盧梭（2015）《德行墮落與不平等的起源》。苑舉正 譯。台北：聯經出版。

Main reference version of the original text:
Plato (1997) The Republic. Translated by Guo Binhe and Zhang Zhuming. Beijing: Commercial Press.
Plato (2002) "The Complete Works of Plato." Volume 1. Translated by Wang Xiaochao. Beijing: People's Publishing House.
Plato (2003) "The Complete Works of Plato." Volume 2". Translated by Wang Xiaochao. Beijing: People's Publishing House.
Aristotle (1997) Politics. Translated by Wu Shoupeng. Beijing: Commercial Press.
Aristotle (1999) The Constitution of Athens. Translated by Rizhi and Liye. Beijing: Commercial Press.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1986) "On the Origin and Basis of Human Inequality". Translated by Li Changshan. Taipei: Tangshan Publishing House.
Rousseau (1997) On Science and Art. Translated by He Zhaowu. Beijing: Commercial Press.
Rousseau (1997) The Social Contract. Translated by He Zhaowu. Beijing: Commercial Press.
Rousseau (1999) "Emile on Education". Translated by Li Pingyu. Beijing: Commercial Press.
Rousseau (2015) The Fall of Virtue and the Origin of Inequality. Translated by Yuan Juzheng. Taipei: Lianjing Publishing House.