本文基于柏拉图政治哲学的内在逻辑,从柏拉图对民主制的批评中寻求建设民主社会的古典智慧。柏拉图最初希望统治者和民众能在哲学的引导下遵照心灵秩序,到后来转变为统治者和民众在法律的规劝和制裁下来建构正义的城邦秩序。这一转变背后不变的是:无论通过哲学还是法律,最后的目的都要引导人们心灵的向善,城邦正义的实现必须基于公民的心灵秩序和美德。由此看来,让民主扎根于人民理性的自觉和健康的心灵之中,才是国家兴盛、社会稳定和人民幸福的根本保障。这也是柏拉图的政治哲学对于我们民主建设最为重要的启示。 Based on the inherent logic of Plato’s Political Philosophy, this article seeks to build the classical wisdom of a democratic society from Plato’s critique of democracy. Plato initially hoped that the rulers and the populace would obey the spiritual order under the guidance of philosophy and later be transformed into the construction of a just polity by the rulers and the people under the law’s persuasion and sanctions. What remains unchanged behind this transformation is that the ultimate goal, no matter through philosophy or law, should guide people’s spiritual goodness. The realization of city-state justice must be based on the spiritual order and virtue of citizens. Seen in this light, letting democracy be rooted in the rational and conscious mind of the people is the fundamental guarantee for the prosperity of the country, social stability and people’s happiness. This is also the most important revelation for Plato’s political philosophy to our democratic construction.