Category Archives: Niklas Luhmann

The problem with rationally-founded arguments

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Andrew Mitchell

A great deal of critical enquiry bases itself around the notion that rational discourse is the key method to reach consensus. If all participants act with rationality, if they are allowed to voice and hear other voices, consensus can be … Continue reading →

Posted in Action theory, Democracy, Niklas Luhmann, Normativity, Political theory, Rationality, Rousseau, Smoking, Systems Theory, Talmon | 1 Comment

The difference between action and communication

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Andrew Mitchell

Having had writer’s block for days, a spark to light the tinder in my mind finally occurred when I was faced with a question of the difference between action and communication. The question may seem spurious but it has ramifications … Continue reading →

Posted in Action theory, Communcation, Economy, Legal system, Niklas Luhmann, observation, Systems Theory | Leave a comment

Complexity and collapse: towards a systems view of society

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Andrew Mitchell

This paper was presented on the 17th April 2013 at the Research Seminars in Critical Thought seminar series which took place at the University of Brighton. Some minor modifications were made to its form during its presentation, the content however … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Swan, Communcation, Complexity, Democracy, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Niklas Luhmann, Systems Theory, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments