Problema (ancient Greek: Problema) πρόβλημα - task, task) in a broad sense - a complex theoretical or practical question that requires study, resolution; in science - a contradictory situation, acting in the form of opposite positions in explaining any phenomena, objects, processes and requiring an adequate theory to resolve it; In life, the problem is formulated in a form understandable to people "I know what, I don't know how", that is, you know what you need to get, but you don't know how to do it.

An important prerequisite for the successful solution of the problem is its correct formulation. An incorrectly formulated problem, or pseudo-problem, leads away from the solution of genuine problems. In systemology, the algorithm of system-organizational activity begins with the "Problem" stage, which is characterized as a motivating factor of action (lack or manifestation of something). The essence of the problem for a person is such that it requires analysis, evaluation, formation of an idea, a concept to find an answer (solution to the problem) with verification and confirmation in experience. A problem is predominantly a question that does not have an unambiguous solution (with a degree of uncertainty). By the presence of uncertainty, the problem is different from the problem.

In Science 

Science is a human activity to identify the problems of ignorance (production of knowledge), and, accordingly, control, forecasting, management of phenomena, processes, events. It is necessary to distinguish scientific activity from scientific knowledge. The substitution of these concepts is the problem of science management. The tasks of science and education differ in the production of knowledge and the production (reproduction) of educated specialists - scientists. Many research scientists form schools, directions of a scientific and practical nature.

A scientific problem is awareness, the formulation of the concept of ignorance. If the problem is identified and formulated in the form of an idea, concept, then this means that you can begin to formulate the problem to solve it. With the introduction of the Russian language into the culture, the concept of "problem" has undergone a transformation. In Western culture, a problem is a problem that needs to be solved. In Russian culture, the problem is the strategic stage of solving the problem, at the ideological and conceptual level, when there are implicitly many conditions, the list of which can be formalized and taken into account in the formulation of the problem (a list of conditions, parameters, boundary conditions (limit of values) of which are included in the conditions of the problem).

The more complex the object of consideration (the more complex the chosen topic), the more ambiguous, uncertain questions (problems) it will contain, and the more difficult the problems will be for formulating the problem and for finding solutions, that is, the problems of a scientific work should contain classification and prioritization in the direction.

The problem and problems are not scientific knowledge, but when formulating definitions, thesaurus, ideas, concepts, the fundamental methodology of science is carried out: description, personification (naming), classification of problems, tasks, directions, objects, which is the setting part (target designation) for the strategy of search work and practical testing of hypotheses, concepts, ideas.