自由主義是西方最古老而可敬的一種意識型態。在歷史上,自由主義最大的價値,在於解除外在環境對個人不合理的束縛與限制,乃至打破命定觀,使人可以改變外在環境,改善今生今世的生活。同時,自由主義的思潮,也不斷豐富哲學與文化的內涵。本文主要對西方自由主義的過去、現在與未來,做一批判性的分析,並且從其意含、思想背景、歷史基礎、發展脈絡,以及成就與缺失,傳統與價値,來評介與申論自由主義何以歷久而彌新,未來仍可能有以自由主義為主流的思潮。迄今,自由主義己是西方的政治社會傳統,其所帶來的哲理,也有當代美國哲學家羅爾士與諾立克繼續在闡揚與發展新的意義。
Liberalism is the oldest and most respectable ideology in the West. In history, the greatest value of liberalism lies in the freedom of individual from irrational bondage and limitations, and even breaking through the fatalism, to improne the outer environment and the life of this world. At the same time, the ethos of liberalism enriches the implication of philosophy and culture as well. This article is a critical analysis of the past, present, and future liberalism, in the main. Also, the author intends to make a commentary introduction and interpretation to the sucessfully renewal of liberalism from its implication, the background of thought, historical basis, developmental contents, achievements and shortcomings, tradition and values. So far, liberalism has become the tradition of Western political society. And the philosophical doctrines of liberalism have been studied and developed by contemporary American philosophers John Rawls and Robert Nozick, till now.