Didaktik in Continental European pedagogy: An analysis of its origins and problems

Abstract

The aim of this study is to describe, in a historical and philosophical context, the foundations and developmental lines of a tradition defined as curriculum science or “didaktik” in Continental Europe, particularly in Germany and Scandinavia. The principal aim here is introducing a theoretical approach based on a different philosophy, in addition to the techno-scientific Anglo-American theoretical approach. Didaktik tradition has been of particular interest for curriculum researchers especially in the past two decades. With such an interactive focus, this paper is divided into four sections. Because this paper traces historical and philosophical pathways of inquiry, its research method is purely qualitative, based on document analysis. The findings of this analytical study are expected to contribute to the wider recognition of a philosophical-pedagogical tradition, which has not hitherto been paid much attention in Turkey.