本文所欲介紹者為政治理論中最早與最久之傳統經典政治理論。本文對此類理論之介紹，只限於其意義、性質與目的三基本方面。本文對這三基本面的介紹，都是根據作者認為最適當與最合理因而才選擇的當代研究該類理論學者的詮釋。 政治理論之所以被稱為「經典」，不僅因為它們在洞察的深度，概念的明晰，想像的新鮮、及思考的邏輯上被公認為具有一流的水準；而且更因為它們能不斷激發後人的心智，從中得到解決各自所處時代的經典政治理論家之間，存有一種對話的傳統：這種傳統不僅含有持續性的議題，更含有討論議題的持續方式。於是各時代參與對話者都難免受到傳統的用語，概念，規則及慣例的約束而必須遵守之。當然後來者亦可在不推翻整個傳統的前提之下，對傳統上的錯誤有所改正，使傳統更新而得以不斷的延續其生命。 從傳統經典政治理論的作品中，我們發現它們在寫作意圖上的道德性；在內容範圍上的廣包性；在思考程序上的哲學性；及在著作相關上的普遍性。在傳統經典政治理論家的身上，我們也發現他們超越時空的開放態度；了解真象的企圖心；以普遍及永恆的問題為焦點；淡化典範的現實主義；承認知識有限度的謙虛態度；及知識上的誠實無欺。 比較言之，傳統經典政治理論在目的上，一方面不同於意識形態，因為它們擺脫並超越特定利益的束縛；另一方面它們既不是純粹的科學政治理論（其目的在敘述與解釋公民與國家的實際政治行為），也不是純粹的哲學政治理論（其目的在建議公民與國家應追求的目標與應遵守的一般行為規則），而是兩者的結合；至於孰輕孰重，則因人而異。單獨來看，傳統經典政治理論的任務在提供關於人類政治生活深刻及全面的看法（同時是一種敘述與評價），以糾正大多數人看政治的近視或錯覺，使他們看得更廣，更遠及更清楚，以避免近視或錯覺所帶來的政治災難。不管是從比較或單一的角度看，一切傳統經典政治理論都在追求 一共同的最後目的：去認識及說明甚麼使政治社會成為良好的社會。

　　　　　The kind of political theory to be introduced in this essay is the earliest and the oldest one, i.e. the traditional and classical political theory. The introduction is limited to its meaning, nature and purpose and is based on interpretation made by contemporary scholars, which the author selects because of its being regarded as the most relevant and the most justifiable ones. A political theory is called "classic" not merely because the depth of its insight, the clearness of its concepts, the freshness of its imagination, and the logicalness of its thought are all recognized as among the first class, but also because it can constantly inspire the mind of later generations who will obtain from it the best starting point for the solution of their own political predicaments. There has existed a tradition of dialogue among the classical political theorists in various times. It consists not only of persistent issues; but also of persistent ways to discuss them. Thus whoever participate in the dialogue are inevitably bound by traditional terms and concepts, traditional rules and customs, and must obey them. Late-comers can, of course, correct traditional errors without overthrowing the structure of the whole tradition and thus refresh it so that its life can persist much longer. From works of the traditional and the classical political theory we find moral quality in their intention; inclusive quality in their scope; philosophical quality in their procedure; and general quality in their relevance. From the traditional and classical political theorists themselves we also discover their open mind trancending time and space; their intention to understand reality; their focus on general and permanent questions; their realism in diluting their paradigms; their intellectual honesty and integrity. Comparatively, unlike ideology on the one hand, the traditional and classical political theory is unbound by specific interests and transcends over them; and on the other hand, it is neither pure scientific political theory its Purpose being the description and explanation of actual political behaviors of both citizens and states, nor pure philosophical political theory its purpose being the prescription of aims which both citizens and states should pursue and general rules of conduct which they should obey, but the combination of both. Singulanly, the task of the traditional and classical political theory is to provide a deep and comprehensive vision of human political life both descriptive and evaluative for remedying defects in the ways that most people see politics such as shortsightedness and illusion so that they can see it broaderly, further and more clearly and thus can avoid political disasters brought about by shortsightedness and illusion. Comparatively or singularly, all traditional and classical political theory pursue a common and final aim: to know and to articulate what makes a political society a good one.