This monograph offers insight into the development of the conceptual basis, scholarly inquiry, and professional practice of adult education in West Germany from the end of World War II to the German reunification. Introductory materials are an "Introduction" (Wilhelm Mader) and "Translator's Note and Acknowledgements" (Martin Haindorff). Three papers in Part I deal with three core professional domains: "General Adult Education" (Erhard Schlutz); "Vocational Development" (Wilfried Voigt); and "Adult Education as a Vocation: Lay Job or Profession?" (Roswitha Peters). The two papers in Part II connect political emancipation and adult education: "Feminist Target Groups as a Form of Work" (Wiltrud Gieseke) and "Labour Education" (Wolfgang Hindrichs). Part III examines the relationship of adult education with other "sciences": "The Importance of Sociology for Further Education" (Wilke Thomssen); "Education Science and Adult Education" (Erhard Schlutz, Wilfried Voigt); and "Psychology and Adult Education" (Wilhelm Mader). Part IV explores three theoretical approaches: "Education Science and Adult Education: Theses for a Critical Relationship" (Herbert Gerl); "Experiential Approaches in Adult Education" (Guenther Holzapfel); and "The Biographical Approach to Adult Education" (Peter Alheit). An appendix includes four items by Martin Haindorff: "Ausbildung, Fortbildung, Weiterbildung"; "Bremen's Legislation on Continuing Education and Its Historical Background since 1970"; "University of Bremen: Requirements, Courses, Examination Regulations"; and a 213-item "Annotated Bibliography." (YLB)