2026 / June

法哲學思維作為法學研究的方法：以刑罰理論為例
Legal Philosophical Thinking as a Method of Legal Research: An Examination Centered on Penal Theory

一般論文 Article

廖宜寧
I-Ning Liao

1-61

本文旨在指出，東亞對於西方法哲學概念的繼受，重點不應僅是引入特定結論或某個先進價值，更重要的是理論預設與思維過程。換言之，重要的是對於「哲思」的繼受。主導現代民主國家的法哲學理念，諸如自由與人性尊嚴，常淪為政治與情緒性的口號，卻缺乏對其哲學基礎、歷史背景與理論難題的辨析。文中援引違憲審查與刑罰理論為例，說明台灣法律體系並置了英美經驗主義—功利主義與德國觀念論兩種典範模型，卻未充分覺察其內在衝突，導致誤用與價值矛盾。本文認為，法哲學應被理解為一種研究與闡釋法學的方法，這也是法哲學在當代最重要的貢獻。唯有如此，才能認真回應上述概念在今日亞洲的挑戰，也是應對當代民主危機與刑罰民粹化的必要途徑。

This paper argues that the reception of Western legal-philosophical concepts in East Asia should not be confined to importing specific conclusions or so-called advanced values, but must instead engage with the underlying theoretical presuppositions and modes of reasoning. In other words, what truly matters is the inheritance of philosophical thinking itself. Core legal-philosophical ideals that underpin modern democratic states—such as liberty and human dignity—have often been reduced to political or emotional slogans, without sufficient attention to their philosophical foundations, historical contexts, and theoretical difficulties. By examining constitutional court rulings and debates on the legitimacy of punishment, this paper demonstrates that Taiwan’s legal system simultaneously embodies both the Anglo-American empiricist-utilitarian paradigm and the German idealist tradition, yet without adequate awareness of the tensions between them. This unexamined coexistence has led to conceptual misuse and value conflicts. The paper contends that legal philosophy should be understood as a method for research and interpretation within legal scholarship, which constitutes its most important contemporary contribution. Only in this way can we meaningfully respond to the challenges posed by these concepts in today’s Asia, and effectively confront the democratic crisis and the rise of penal populism.

刑罰理論, 應報, 經驗主義, 觀念論, 自由, 人性尊嚴
punishment theory, retribution, empiricism, idealism, freedom, human dignity

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