Grundlegung

Grundlegung is a German noun (die Grundlegung) meaning the laying of a foundation or the groundwork for something. In general usage it denotes the act of establishing the base, or the preliminary preparation, on which a larger project, argument, or theory rests. In scholarly contexts the term is often applied to the initial portion of a work that sets out fundamental principles, assumptions, or methods intended to support subsequent development.

In philosophy, Grundlegung is used to describe a foundational or preparatory investigation that seeks to establish whether a given system or line of thought is possible and coherent. A famous and influential instance is Kant’s Grundlegung zur Metaphysik der Sitten, commonly translated as Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, published in 1785. Kant’s work aims to derive the fundamental principle of morality and the concept of the good will from pure practical reason, presenting a succinct argument intended to ground moral philosophy rather than to develop a comprehensive system. The Grundlegung is thus characterized as a foundational text that tests the viability of a moral theory and clarifies its basic requirements.

Beyond Kant, the term is used more generally to describe the introductory, foundational sections of various scholarly works, where key concepts, methods, and objectives are laid out before deeper analysis or argumentation proceeds. Related concepts include Grundlagen (foundations) and Grundlagentheorie (theory of grounding).