國立臺灣大學政治科學論叢

Abstract / Chinese PDF Download

This paper explores the concept of civic education in liberal thought and identifies problems inherent in this concept with respect to state neutrality and multiculturalism. A product of the history of Western political thought, the liberal philosophy of civic education reflects Europe’s struggle with sectarian conflict and monarchical despotism. Modern liberals’ advocacy of state neutrality with respect to moral and ethical norms is rooted in this struggle. Liberal civic education attempts to cultivate a type of morality that favors no particular normative position, emphasizing the concepts of constitutional government, tolerance and human rights to resolve value-based conflict. This paper argues that the liberal notion of state neutrality is incapable of meeting challenges posed by contemporary ethnic political movements, particularly those involving power inequality among ethnic groups. Liberalism’s categorization of political vs. non-political culture and institutional vs. ethnic/religion-specific culture neglects the important function a standardized high culture serves in industrial society. The paper suggests the need for a further democratic dialogue amongst various ethnic groups regarding the content of civic education.