The author explains the kind of knowledge, philosophy of education deals with, by describing first the process of generating theory, next the production of knowledge by research work, and finally the relation of a philosophy of education to pedagogical professions. He concludes that the classical task of a philosophy of education is to analyse the orientating function of knowledge for human beings in general and to empirically and theoretically produce corresponding patterns of reflection. This definition of task is orientated towards a theory of "Bildung" (formation), and confirmed by the on-going debate on the "knowledge-society".