Meaning in the perspective of Luhmann: between its formal definition and its taking form

This article analyzes the theoretical and epistemological elaborations of Luhmann about the problem of meaning. Its aim is to trace the key tension that crosses the different inflections of his proposal: between a formal definition of meaning, with the distinction of selective actuality and the hori...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Bialakowsky, Alejandro
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2016
País:Perú
Institución:Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Repositorio:Revistas - Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Idioma:español
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/16035
Acceso en línea:http://revistas.pucp.edu.pe/index.php/debatesensociologia/article/view/16035
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:contemporary sociological theory
epistemology
meaning
Luhmann
conceptual construction
teoría sociológica contemporánea
epistemología
sentido
construcción conceptual
Descripción
Sumario:This article analyzes the theoretical and epistemological elaborations of Luhmann about the problem of meaning. Its aim is to trace the key tension that crosses the different inflections of his proposal: between a formal definition of meaning, with the distinction of selective actuality and the horizon of potentialities, and its taking form, parting from the operations of systems. In order to do this, three decisive moments of his perspective are studied. First, the article focuses on his claim to formally conceptualize and to «desubjectivize» meaning, within a series of theoretical inheritances and ruptures.Second, it analyzes the consequences of his autopoietical proposal, either by pointing out meaning as the coevolutionary achievement of psychic and social systems, or in its analysis of the linguistic generalization of meaning. Third, in his later works, with the intensification of his theory of the observer, the article examines his approach to meaning from the distinction between medium and form. Finally, the previous considerations are combined with his theory of evolution and differentiation of society, from which the article reflects on the particularities of the conceptual construction of Luhmann about meaning.