Can social systems be autopoietic? Bhaskar's and Giddens’ social theories
Abstract
The theory of autopoiesis, that is systems that are self‐producing or self‐constructing, was originally developed to explain the particular nature of living as opposed to non‐living entities. It was subsequently enlarged to encompass cognition and language leading to what is known as second‐order cybernetics. However, as with earlier biological theories, many authors have tried to extend the domain of the theory to encompass social systems, the most notable being Luhmann. The pur‐pose of this paper is to consider critically the extent to which the theory of autopoiesis, as originally defined, can be applied to social systems‐that is, whether social systems are autopoietic. And, if it cannot, whether some weaker version might be appropriate. It addresses this question by considering whether autopoiesis can be applied to the theoretical conceptions of Giddens and Bhaskar. It follows an earlier paper that evaluated Luhmann's autopoietic social theory.
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This can be achieved through the nature and dynamics of autopoiesis or self-producing/constructing physical systems.
“This can be achieved through the nature and dynamics of autopoiesis or self-producing/constructing physical systems (Bunker et al., 2013;Mingers, 2002Mingers, , 2004)).”
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- Authors
- MINGERS, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Kent (GB)
- Corresponding author
- MINGERS, JOHN
- ORCID
- MINGERS, JOHN
- Venue
- Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2004-12
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 403-427
- ISSN
- 0021-8308 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-5914
- OpenAlex
- W2097970422
- Cited by
- 88
- References
- 78
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 2 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 11.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour (publishedVersion)
- Kent Academic Repository (University of Kent) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Critical Realism in Sociology
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy and History of Science
- Keywords
- autopoiesis, social systems, social theory, Bhaskar, Anthony Giddens, Niklas Luhmann, second-order cybernetics, self-production
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