摘要
本論文環繞著「在二十一世紀的台灣，我們應如何看待公民社會？」這個問題展開討論，在進入主題以前，首先指出公民社會的一般理念，作為分析台灣公民社會發展的準據。今日台灣必須超越民間社會論者所採國家＼民間對立的現象，回歸公民社會在接受現有的、相互尊重的公共規範契約關係下，追求公民平等參與、自主性，與公共性格。戰後台灣社會變遷是以「從農業社會到工業社會」為主軸展開，過程中威權體制的鞏固、衰退和轉型，而台灣公民社會的力量卻一直持續增強，且朝向制度化的發展。最後，筆者想再強調的是：進入二十一世纪台灣，當務之急是公民文化成長，以及公民意識的建立，讓我們的人民對公共生活能有所覺醒，並能主動參與公共領域事務。
並列摘要
This essay will focus on such question as: How will we treat the concept of civil society in the 21(superscript st) century of Taiwan? Before entering into the main theme of this essay, the author will point out the concepts of civil society that will be the basis of Taiwan civil social development. The author believes that we should go beyond the common society discussions, which limited themselves to the opposition between the state and the subject, and that we should return to a civil society emphasizing the acceptance of the present, mutual respect and the relation of public contract between citizens. All the citizens in a civil society will pursue the equal sense of anticipation, self-independence and social character. Taiwan has experienced the transition from an agricultural society to an industrial one during the post war period. In the same time, Taiwan has seen its authoritarian government rising, falling and transforming. But the strength of Taiwan society is constantly on the rise and has run its way toward the systematic development. In the conclusion the author emphasizes that the most urgent issue for Taiwan of 21(superscript st) century will be the establishment of civic awareness and the growth of civil culture. Only when our people are woken up by the sense of civil social life will they actively participate in the public community affairs.