first-order question
noun1
Human sciences, Philosophy, Sciences A direct question about facts or values, as opposed to a metaquestion.
- [L]et us call questions about what is and happens in the world, or about what men ought to do or seek, "first-order" questions. We should recognize, then, that there are also "second-order" questions that can be asked: questions about our first-order knowledge1972, Mortimer J. Adler, How to Read a Book, 1972 edition, page 276: