We believe it is necessary and possible to build a unified approach to mathematical knowledge and instruction that allows the overcoming of the dilemmas among the diverse competing paradigms: realism–pragmatism, individualism–institutional knowledge,constructivism–behaviourism, etc. To progress in this direction we should take into account some conceptual
and methodological tools from holistic disciplines such as Semiotics, Anthropology and Ecology, coherently articulated with other disciplines such as Psychology and Pedagogy, which traditionally are immediate reference for Mathematics Education.
The Onto-Semiotic Approach to Mathematics Education that we present in this paper is a ‘‘homegrown model’’ that assumes a systemic and interdisciplinary perspective (Steiner, 1985) to deal with the complexity of Mathematics Education as a field of research,development and practice.