grundvallarkenningar

Grundvallarkenningar, literally meaning foundation theories, is a term used in Swedish-language discussions to denote the fundamental theoretical frameworks that underlie a scientific or intellectual field. They comprise the core assumptions, principles, and concepts from which more specific theories, models, and explanations are derived. These foundations shape how researchers frame problems, select methods, interpret evidence, and assess explanations. Distinctions are commonly drawn between foundational theories and applied, descriptive, or emergent theories; the foundations tend to be fewer and more abstract, while applications are many and concrete.

In practice, grundvallarkenningar can be found across disciplines, including natural sciences, social sciences, and philosophy of science. They are often revisited in debates about realism, determinism, holism, and methodological commitments, as advances in data or technology prompt reevaluation of what counts as a satisfactory foundation. Critics argue that any foundational theory is provisional and potentially revisable as knowledge grows, while supporters contend that a stable set of foundations is necessary to maintain coherence and explanatory power.

The term is most often used in academic or theoretical discussions; in everyday Swedish, speakers may prefer phrases such as grundteorier eller grundläggande teorier. See also foundationalism, theory of science, metatheory.