漢娜鄂蘭的複數性概念,是一個在她的著作與論述中反覆出現卻從未被她詳細闡述的概念,而這也是各種詮釋途徑的差異所在,也就是她的詮釋者們確實各自針對了鄂蘭著述中豐富的元素與主題加以探究,卻忽視了複數性作為一個根本公約數的重要性。 本文主張應該將複數性視為鄂蘭的政治本體論的切入點,並認為應注意的是鄂蘭在闡述她不同的理論主題時,如行動、思考、判斷、真理等等,與複數性之間的關聯何在,並且複數性並非僅只作為一種基礎存有上的意義,更需經過行動的實現意義才能被完整。 對於複數性的處理,本文將從三個部分來開展,首先是鄂蘭從哪一個端點思考複數性,這部分的主要關懷是鄂蘭認為應該對政治與哲學嚴格區分的主張;其次是複數性的意義與輪廓,這部分處理的是她在《人的境況》之中關於政治的本質與積極生活內涵的系統性論述;最後是複數性的現實化,這部分要處理的是看似存於內省的心靈活動如何能夠成為複數性在實踐層次上的意義。在結論的部分,在重述與整理主要論點之外,將會簡要地觸及鄂蘭對於自由與時間兩個重要的論題的理解,試圖再更加延伸對於複數性的思索。
The plurality, which Hannah Arendt presents repeatedly in her works, yet never been elaborated in detail. Since Arendt’s implicit definition of plurality, it makes later scholars hard to find a common ground when studying Arendt. Different interpretative approach may find different dimensions to support their argumentations from her diverse works. The research argues that the plurality may be the hub of Arendt’s political thought. The research suggests that we have better consider plurality as a key concept of Arendt’s political ontology. What we could notice is how Arendt use plurality and how she connects plurality with other concepts when she expounds different topics such as action, thinking, judgement or truth. Furthermore, plurality should not be conceived only in a sense of fundamental ontology but also needs to be actualized through action to be fully recognized. The research will expand in three sections. In the first section, on what position Arendt ponders the concept of plurality, this part will focus on Arendt’s proposition of strictly distinguishing between politics and philosophy. Secondly, the meaning and figure of plurality, this section will explore the essence of politics and the connotation of ‘vita activa’ in her most well-organized book, The Human Condition. Moreover, the actualization of plurality, this part will discuss how the activity of mind which, though seemed a meditation activity, actually can make plurality into a more pragmatic meaning. In conclusion, based on restating and organizing basic arguments of this thesis, I will briefly mention two important issues discussed by Arendt, freedom and time, trying to extend the thinking about plurality.