摘要
《老子》基本上是政治哲學。「小國寡民」則是老子的政治理想，可以與西方「烏托邦」思想相互呼應。然而他的思想卻被誤解成權謀詐術，甚至為「愚民政策」。老子是否主張愚民主義的政治哲學？筆者的結論是老子並沒有主張愚民主義，反而還力倡愛民思想。
「無為」則是老子達到政治理想的方法。「無為」是老子政治哲學中的核心部分，蘊含著自由平等精神和反對專制的民主精神。
筆者在本文中企圖還原老子政治思想的真貌，期待進一步能發現老子政治思想的價值，而能應用於現代的社會政治。
關鍵字：老子、政治、道、無為、小國寡民、愚民主義
Abstract
LaoTzu’s Tao Te Ching is basically political philosophy. “The State should be small, and its inhabitants should be few” is his political ideal, it can be compare with the thought of “Utopia”. However, his political thought was misinterpreted as political tactics, even as “obscurantism”. Is it true? This article will prove LaoTzu do not proclaim obscurantism, on the other hand, He proclaim that the ruler should love the people.
“Inaction” (letting things take their own course) is then the method that used by LaoTzu to achieve his political ideal. “Inaction” is the core of LaoTzu’s political philosophy, which contains the spirit of free, equality and democracy, which is against tyranny.
This article is trying to return LaoTzu’s political philosophy to the original shape, and expect to discover the value of his thought, and then apply it to the modern society.
Key Words：LaoTzu, political philosophy, Tao, Inaction, The State should be small and its inhabitants should be few, obscurantism