Die Zweiheit des Selbstverstdndlichen und des Diskutablen: ein Beitrag zur erziehungswissenschaftlichen Grundlagenforschung

Zeno's paradoxes of motion illustrate the relevance of conceptual perspectives to theories of movement. In this article, the contribution of foundational research to the detection and solution of conceptual problems in the educational theory, will be examined. First, a constructivist definition of the object of foundational research - provisionally to be indicated as 'conceptual systems' - will be elaborated, on the basis of which the aim of foundational research - making explicit the presuppositions of those systems - will be clarified. From this point of view, foundations refer to the self-evident as it is related to the disputable, i.e. to context-dependent patterns of presuppositions that are taken for granted, and propositions that depend on them. Secondly, possible interpretations of the recent phenomenon of warfare between legions of football supporters will be analysed as an example to illustrate this view of foundational research. This analysis shows some limitations of traditional concepts of morality and identity, which can be reduced to their accentuation of statics and stability. There is an obvious need for more dynamic, process-oriented, concepts of morality and identity. In conclusion the tasks of foundational research are shortly summarised.