Abstract: A problem itself could trigger the mechanism of scientific exploration. To some extent， the history of science is the generating and evolutionary history of scientific problems. The generation and development of scientific problems accord with the evolution model of self-organization， and the “problem system” promotes the progress of science with the hypercycle model. The starting point of emergence， the criteria of selection and the mechanisms of evolution are the key points of the development model of problem hypercycle. The process of developing and exploring scientific problems is not a single battle on a single problem but a joint operation under the influence of nonlinear coupling in one scientific field， by which to promote the growth of scientific knowledge and the progress of scientific research.

Key words: problem study, problem system, hypercycle, generation, evolution