本文旨在探討博物館學的存有與發展,首先以國際間對於博物館定義的調整,呈現博物館學兩大關注焦點「博物館是什麼?」以及「博物館可以是什麼?」在不同時空脈絡中的理解。其次從西方博物館界自19世紀以來的發展,以存在主義觀點,說明博物館學的建構實在與博物館生活世界的關係。文中除整理不同時空社會之於博物館學的定義與理解外,亦說明博物館學知識建構在臺灣發展的事實。省思西方博物館學概念本土化的同時,作者特別說明博物館學研究內涵及研究取向,強調博物館學的發展實存於博物館、博物館專業社群以及大學博物館學課程、研究的相互影響中,提出主觀認知博物館界場域涉入的重要性。
Museology is a continually developing discipline that draws from the interactions among museums, museum communities, and university museology programs. The practical applications and theoretical development of museology are examined through analysis of the revised definitions of museums and relevant transformations in the field of museology. The author also addresses the localization of museology in Taiwan, and considers the reality of constructing museology knowledge based on the museum "life-world", professional community and academic programs. In addition, the research content and methodological approach of museology are discussed. Finally, the importance of museum consciousness and the capacity for obtaining a better understanding of museological concepts and practices through reflection on the values of preserving and using cultural heritage in an evolving society are examined.