君子任天,明知不可為而為之,儒學義理為核心、從志學到為民奔走倡議的投注,建構多元自我認定與生命抉擇的生命景緻。林獻堂的一生,經歷了清國、日本和國民政府的統治,在日治期間支持推動了一連串的政治社會文化運動,間接影響了臺灣民主文化的形成。本論文採取心理傳記的方法,研究林獻堂在當時是如何選擇出自己要走的路,並探究林獻堂生命歷程的發展。本文發現林獻堂面臨人生中兩大認同危機:甲午戰敗臺灣被割讓,面對輿圖變色時,自身及家族的去從危機,以及看見臺灣人民受日人壓迫民權不彰,希望能找到和日本殖民統治對抗的方法,投身議會設置請願運動,作為人生的另一志業,並以君子之道為信念,堅持原則和信念,為臺灣民眾謀取幸福。
Searching as a decent gentleman in the stormy times who knew it cannot be changed but still doing it. The life features construct diverse self-identities and career choices, through the core belief on Confucianism and the actions transferred the learning commitment to advocate for people. Born in 1881 in Taichung, Lin Hsien-Tang's entire lifespan experienced several regimes in Taiwan, from the Qing Dynasty, the Japanese rule, and the governance of Kuomintang (KMT) government. During the period of Japanese Occupation, he led and espoused several social, political, and cultural movements in Taiwan. One of the most significant and impactful movements was the "Petition Movement for the Establishment of a Taiwanese Parliament," which began in 1918 and lasted for 15 years. This movement contributed, though not directly, to the formation of Taiwan's democratic culture. Lin Hsien-Tang, therefore, earned the name as "the father of Taiwan's Parliamentary Organizations." The current study aimed to investigate Lin Hsien-Tang's career development and psychological process by placing his choice-making process under the socio-historical contexts of his time. This current thesis analyzed and unfolded two identity crises faced by Lin Hsien-Tang: First, The Qing Dynasty of China ceded Taiwan Province to Japan in the Treaty of Shimonoseki after Japanese victory in the First Sino-Japanese War; Lin Hsien-Tang faced the crisis of identity and family. Second, in the middle age, he faced the Japanese colonial oppression. One significant experience for Lin Hsien-Tang was his encounter with the mainland scholar, Liang Qi- Chao. Inspired by Liang Qi-Chao and the Confucianism philosophies, Lin Hsien-Tang dedicated himself to a career in political movements and human right campaigns against the Japanese colonial rule, hoping to strive for the promotion of collective well-being and dignity of Taiwan and its people.