Difficulties and Paradoxes of Second-Order Observation. Reflections on the Calculus of Form

Authors

  • Fernando Robles Salgado Universidad de Concepción
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Abstract

This paper focuses on the particularities of the second-order observation from the point of view of the calculus of form devised by George Spencer-Brown. In a first step, it highlights the potential opening up for the social sciences with the use of the form as observation strategy. In a second step, it provides eleven theses on the practical use of the second-order observation. Specifically, it redefines the theory of second-order observation from systems theory of Niklas Luhmann.

Keywords:

Social Systems Theory , Second Order Observation , Calculus of Form , Paradoxes of the Observation , Social Systems

Author Biography

Fernando Robles Salgado, Universidad de Concepción

Fernando Robles es actualmente Profesor Asociado del Departamento de Sociología y Antropología de la Universidad de Concepción, Chile. Doctor en sociología por la Universidad Ludwig-Maximilian de Munich, Alemania. Entre sus áreas de especialización se encuentran: riesgo social, sociología política, teoría de sistemas sociales, desigualdad y exclusión social, etnometodología y análisis conversacional.