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The communication turn in the theory of social systems
Author(s) -
Leydesdorff Loet
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
systems research and behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 1092-7026
DOI - 10.1002/sres.453
Subject(s) - reflexivity , meaning (existential) , communication theory , epistemology , sociology , order (exchange) , social system , systems theory , social theory , computer science , social science , communication , artificial intelligence , philosophy , economics , finance
The theory of social systems has been contested as a part of sociology. Social order can be expected to emerge as an expectation that is communicated. A communication can be provided with meaning and meaning may evolve into codified meaning. The social system can thus be considered as developing in layers of communication among reflexive actors. At the interfaces between systems theory, communication theory and evolution theory puzzles emerge which can also be formulated as analytical and empirical questions. The mathematical theory of communication can be used for the clarification of the relations among these different perspectives, since a message is expected to contain information. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.