General educational science deals with fundamental questions and situations of pedagogical science. It examines how basic educational concepts can be systematically defined and distinguished from one another. It also investigates the internal contradictions and paradoxes of pedagogy, such as the contradiction between freedom and constraint in education. General educational science lays the groundwork for locating and critically discussing educational tasks and meanings. This introduction follows a three-part structure. The first part addresses the scientific character of pedagogy and the associated scientific work. The second part presents central educational concepts and demonstrates how and why there are disputes surrounding them. Thirdly, the introduction introduces key problem figures that one encounters in pedagogical thinking and action.