Prolegomena to Problemology: a definition of social problems

This study initiates a rigorous definition of complex problems as the first step in an emerging science of problematics. The short presentation below, is a prerequisite to any scientific treatment of problems, because it lays down the foundations for further systematic and systemic work by outlining the concept, structure, and process of problems and by doing so answer the questions related to the nature, meaning, type, location, time, and solution of the world's most critical issues. Thus, although the study does not go into any depth; it does cover the field of problem analysis exhaustively and sets the basis for more detailed and specialized research