本課程重點在於從思想層面探討西方民主理路，其中包括三條主軸。第一是真民主和假民主分別。第二是保障菁英和保護弱勢。第三是自利與共善的行為假設。

在講授順序方面，本學期分成兩個單元。第一是雅典民主的正反辯論。第二部份要討論專制王權思想及其反動，也就是社會契約。在這方面，馬基維利和霍布斯強調自利是個人最重要的行為動機，霍布斯因此主張理性自保，促使個人將權力盡數交給主權者。洛克批評霍布斯的邏輯不合情理，主張社會契約是要保障，而非限制個人的自然權利。

The focus of this course is to explore the Western democratic path from the ideological level, including three main axes. The first is the distinction between real democracy and fake democracy. The second is to protect elites and protect weaknesses. The third is the hypothesis of self-interest and common good.

In terms of teaching order, this period is divided into two units. The first is the positive and negative arguments of Athenian democracy. The second part is to discuss the idea of ​​the throne and its reaction, that is, social contract. In this regard, Makivily and Hobbes emphasized that self-interest is the most important behavioral act of individuals, so Hobbes advocated rational self-protection, prompting individuals to hand over their power to the right holder as much as possible. Locke criticized Hobbes' logic for being unreasonable, and advocated social contracts to protect, not restrict individuals' natural rights.

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.