ABSTRACT
This chapter offers a reflection on the development of the Thematic Working Group (TWG) since then. Besides the TWG, two plenary sessions have been devoted to the theme of theories, one at Congress of European Research in Mathematics Education (CERME) 5 in 2007 and one at CERME 6 in 2009. The chapter discusses the discourse on theories in mathematics education research (MER) until 2005. It includes sustained development of ideas by the CERME TWG on theoretical perspectives over a number of CERME conferences. The chapter considers the role of theory, the relationships between theory and practice and the dynamic character of theory are discussed with regard to the diversity of theoretical approaches and with networking in the background. It deals essentially with ideas that arose within CERME and initiated or influenced, at least partially, developments in mathematics education beyond ERME. The chapter focuses on what has been achieved within the TWG and outline a vision for the future.
