近代民主社會的最主要特徵之一，即是「多元主義」存在的事實。人們不僅在宗 教、道德、哲學信念及信仰上有所分歧，而且個人的價值觀、人生觀也各有分殊。面對此一 多元價值並存的社會，社會的整合及穩定如何獲致﹖此一課題不僅關係著當代許多國家的分 與合，也深深地牽動到無數族群、個體的疏離與認同。因此自然備受當代許多知名哲學家如 泰勒（ C.Taylor ）、 哈伯瑪斯、 （ J.Habermas ）、 瓦瑟（ M.Walzer ）及羅爾斯（ J.Rawls ）等人的關注。本文的主要目的， 即擬以羅爾斯「政治自由主義」（ Political Liberalism ）為探討的焦點， 考察他在面對多元主義所形成的困境時，如何謀求解決之道 。羅爾斯乃當代最具影響力的政治思想家之一，自從他的正義論提出以後，對西方學界產生 極大的影響，隨之亦引來不少的批評。國內學界也逐漸認識到羅爾斯思想的重要性與影響力 ，但對其理論做批判性的學術論文似不多見。本文即擬從批判的角度，探討羅爾斯新近著作 「政治自由主義」的理論架構，以期在這一方面做拋磚引玉的工作。本文在處理上，首先說 明「穩定與整合」乃是政治哲學的根本課題，而此一課題也正是羅爾斯修正傳統自由主義， 提出「政治性」自由主義主因。其次，則針對羅爾斯對於「合理多元主義」的認識及侷限性 提出說明。第三部份，除了對於羅爾斯「重疊性共識」的構想加以說明外，並指出此一構想 可能存在的若干問題。最後，筆者除了扼要總結本文的論點外，並指出羅爾斯晚近的理論， 由於和現實世界脫節過大，因此不免予人華而不實的感覺。

　　　　　Granted the fact that one of the characteristic traits of modern democratic society is pluralism, expressed in religious, moral and philosophical diversities, as well as many comprehensive doctrines of values and ways of life, the question of how to maintain social integration and stability is one which can hardly be evaded. And this is one of the essential issues that concern many renowned contemporary philosophers such as Taylor, Habermas, Walzer and Rawls. In this essay I will try to expose how Rawls in his Political Liberalism tackles ,the dilemma between diversity and unity brought about by the fact of pluralism in modern democratic society. Firstly, I argue that because the issue of integration and stability occupies an important place in political philosophy, Rawls designates his doctrines "political liberalism" as distinct from traditional liberalism. Secondly, I account for his principle of "reasonable pluralism" together with the inadequacies of it Thirdly, I try to explain the idea of overlapping consensus and explain why I deem it insufficient to solve the dilemma. And lastly, I conclude my essay by making a preliminary assessment of his theory, in short, Rawls' enterprise is ingenious and profound, yet a little bit far away from the politically real world we are living in.