本文的目的有二：首先從歷史的角度去探討政治概念在西方學術界的演變；然後 再比較不同時代的不同政治概念在理論價值上，或學術研究上，或實際應用上的優劣。 根據本文歷史探討的結果，西方學術界從古至今，在政治概念上的演變，大體上有軌道可察。首先，在公元前第五世紀由希臘哲學家所創造，延續到公元第十五、六世紀的古典政治概念，視政治為一社群中對共善或公共利益的集體追求。其次，由西歐政治思想家在近代初期所創造，經德國政治社會學家所界定，持續至本世紀初為美國政治學家所接受與堅信的傳統政治概念，視政治為國家的運作或活動。最後，由美國政治科學家在第二次世界大戰後所創造，流行至今的當代政治概念有兩種：道爾教授所明確界定的政治概念，視政治為涉及影響、權力及權威的人際關係；伊斯頓教授所創造且合於普通常識的政治概念，視政治為在政治 系統中替社會作權威性的價值分配。 根據本文比較研究的結果，以公共利益為中心的古典政治概念，理論上最有價值，但適用上卻有不易克服的難題。以國家為中心的傳統政治概念，在實際上雖有很大的功用，但在學術研究上卻有嚴重的問題。以權力為中心的當代政治概念，在學術研究上有優點，也有缺點。比較言之，還是以政治為替社會作權威性的價值分配的另一當代政治概念，不僅在理論上具有科學性，而且在研究上也很適當。

This essay attempts to study, first historically, the development of the concepts of politics in Western academic world, and, then comparatively, various concepts' merits or defects in theory or research or practice. As my historical discovery shows, the development of concepts of politics from the ancient time to the present time in Western academic world has tracks in order. Firstly, according to classical concept of politics, being originally created by ancient Greek philosophers in the fifth B.C. and lasting until the fifth and sixteenth century, politics is the collective pursuit of common good or public interest in a community. Secondly, according to the traditional concept of politics, being firstly created by political thinkers of Western Europe around the beginning of modern time, then clearly defined by German political socialogists, and finally firmly accepted by American political scientists in the beginning of this century, politics is the operation and activity of the state. Finally, two contemporary concepts of politics were created by American scientists of politics after the World War Ⅱ and has been still popular in the professional academic community ofpolitical scientists. According to the one clearly defined by professor Robert Dahl, politics is the human relationship involving influence, power and authority. According to the created by Professor David Easton, politics is the authoritative allocation of value for the whole society in a political system. My comparative study of the four concepts of politics mentioned above also shows both their merits and their defects. The classical concept of politics, which centers around the concept of public interest, is the most valuable in theory, but has some problems in applicability difficult to overcome. The traditional concept of politics, which focuses on the concept of state, is indeed highly useful in practical politics, but has many serious intellectual problems in political analysis. One of the contemporary concepts of politics, which focuses on power, has both merits and defects in research. The other one, connecting politics with the authoritative allocation of value for society, is not only scientific in theory, but also proper in research.

政治;國家;社會;政策;影響;權力;權威;共善或公共利益;價值分配;政治系統;古典政治概念;傳統政治概念;當代政治概念

Politics; State; Society; Policy; Influence; Power; Authority; Common good or public interest; Allocation of value; Political system; The classical concept of politics; The traditional concept of politics; The contemporary concept of politics