研究者使用發展理論之研究目的，即為觀測未來動向之發展可能性。因此，發展理論學者常使用「現代化理論」、「依賴理論」、「東亞發展論」以及「全球化理論」，用以解釋了19~20世紀的發展趨勢。吾人觀察現今臺灣社會，預期出現年金健保等社會福利問題、經濟發展轉型問題，以及少子高齡化問題，具較諸前述理論背景，有相當不同。因此，本文提出由世代論述觀察社會發展之觀點，尤其著墨於整理日本戰後「世代論」之典範發展。本文由戰後派世代、嬰兒潮世代、後嬰兒潮世代等演變，結合政治論述與其社會演變，印證並強化「世代政治」理論。期能提供「發展理論」之方法論研究，以及觀察臺灣現今社會問題之視角。

The purpose of development theory is to predict future trends. Previous scholars have often used four paradigms to explain political trends in the 19th and 20th centuries, namely modernization theory, dependency theory, the East Asian model, and globalization theory. However, when focusing on problems specifically related to social change in Taiwan, such as changes to welfare, health insurance, economic structures, and population aging, several inappropriate changes can be observed in these development theories. Therefore, the author recommends applying generation theory, especially in which was originally proposed by Japanese scholars, to gain an alternative perspective. This article discusses the theoretical content of generation theory to analyze the theory from a discourse perspective by using Japanesemany generation styles. It contributes to the methodological approach of recent development theories and provides various explanations for social phenomena in Taiwan.