Problem
Overview
Problem (問題; Korean: munje) is a concept referring collectively to a question requiring an answer or solution, or a difficult situation or task that must be resolved. Narrowly, it means an item or question presented in an exam or textbook that requires solving; broadly, it means an unresolved task faced across human activities such as philosophy, science, society, and politics. Problems are regarded as both a “starting point of cognition” and a “trigger that prompts thought,” and as a fundamental driver of education and academic development.
Main Content
Etymology and Definition
The Korean word munje (문제) is a combination of the Chinese characters 問 (mun, “to ask”) and 題 (je, “title”), literally meaning “a title that asks,” i.e., a question requiring an answer. The English word problem derives from Greek problema (“something put forward, a proposed task”), and has a stronger nuance of “a difficult issue that must be solved” than question. Korean dictionaries sometimes divide problem into three meanings: ① a question requiring an answer, ② a difficult matter or event to resolve, and ③ a matter that becomes the object of discussion or debate.
Philosophical Perspective
In philosophy, a problem is the starting point of the pursuit of truth. Socrates developed a method of dialogue that made people aware of their ignorance through questioning, and Descartes sought a firm foundation for certain knowledge by calling everything into question through methodological doubt. In How We Think, Dewey (John Dewey) defined the problem situation (reflective thinking) as the starting point of reflective thought and presented the stages of clarifying the problem → forming hypotheses → verification. In other words, a problem is not merely an obstacle but a structural occasion that guides thought and inquiry.
Problems in Mathematics and Science
In mathematics, problems, along with theorems, form the core of the discipline. Unsolved problems such as Hilbert's 23 problems and the seven Millennium Prize Problems (e.g., P vs NP, the Riemann hypothesis) set the direction of the field and serve as driving forces that generate new theories. In science, “problem setting” determines the success or failure of research. A good problem is verifiable, falsifiable, and challenges existing paradigms. Kuhn (Thomas Kuhn) distinguished problems as “puzzles” to be solved in normal science from “anomalies” that shake the existing system.
Problems in Education
In educational settings, problems are a core tool for learning assessment and training. They come in various forms, including multiple-choice, short-answer, descriptive, and essay questions, and their difficulty spectrum ranges widely from simple memorization to application and advanced questions requiring higher-order thinking. Item writing is based on the achievement standards of the curriculum, and recently the focus has been shifting from simple knowledge checks toward measuring problem-solving ability, critical thinking, and creativity. International academic achievement assessments such as PISA and TIMSS also emphasize such competency-centered items.
Problem-Solving Methodology
Problem solving is a major research topic in cognitive psychology and business administration. In How to Solve It, Pólya (George Pólya) presented four stages: ① understanding the problem, ② devising a plan, ③ carrying out the plan, and ④ looking back; this became a classic of mathematics education and creative problem-solving (CPS) models. In computer science, algorithm design, divide and conquer, dynamic programming, etc. are treated as representative problem-solving strategies.
Social and Political Problems
In society, “problems” form public agendas. Poverty, inequality, climate change, low birth rates, and so on are collective problems addressed through policy and institutions. Social problems often involve diverse stakeholders and are ill-structured problems whose “correct answer” does not converge on one solution, requiring multifaceted approaches and deliberation.
Recent Trends
In 2024–2025, AI-based problem generation and scoring are spreading rapidly in education. Generative AI is creating customized items suited to individual levels in real time, and systems that automatically grade and provide feedback on descriptive and essay answers are being introduced. At the same time, in an environment where AI solves problems on our behalf, “humans' unique ability to set problems” and “metacognition” are increasingly emphasized. In addition, in international academic achievement assessments and university admissions systems, complex problems in real-life contexts and multidisciplinary convergence problems are gaining greater weight over standardized problems, and global issues such as climate, AI ethics, and pandemic response are emerging as new “problems.”
Related Topics
- [[Problem solving]]
- [[Creativity]]
- [[Critical thinking]]
- [[Assessment]]
- [[Mathematics]]
- [[Curriculum]]
- [[Artificial intelligence]]