290340 VO+KO Communication and Difference (2007S)

At large, and maybe especially in Geography, the name of Niklas Luhmann and his "theory of social systems" is associated with the idea of a very complicated and cumbrous theory. The lecture will introduce into some general conceptions of the theory of social systems, like difference between systems and their environment, communication and differentiation in society, difference between psychic and social systems, theory of observation and concept of understanding. Connected to the lecture is a conversation class, in which the presented concepts can be discussed in depth and be tried to apply to (geographical) practice. Within the lecture I will adress the issue to what extent this modern type of system theory can contribute to an understanding of geographical problems. As an example I will use the interrelations between society, man and environment.