In the multiverse what is real?

Luhmann, complexity and ant

Barbara Mauthe

Thomas E. Webb

pp. 243-262

in: Anders la Cour, Andreas Philippopoulos-Mihalopoulos (eds), Luhmann observed, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2013

Abstract

The goal of this chapter is to examine Luhmann's theory of the social as representing reality by engaging in a dialogue with two rival theories, that of complexity theory and Actor-Network theory (ANT), which appear incommensurable with an autopoietic perspective. The purpose of this juxtaposition is to challenge Luhmann's autopoietic self-constructed perception of reality. The assertion of this chapter is that each approach offers a different and equally legitimate understanding of society and that the notion of society can accommodate multiple realities. In other words, society can be represented as a multiverse and not a single unique universe.