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[Commlist] CFP | Luhmann Conference 2024 | Guiding distinctions. Observed with social systems theory
Mon Oct 30 22:44:42 GMT 2023
Call for papers to the
*Luhmann Conference 2024*
*Guiding distinctions. Observed with social systems theory*
*Venue: *Inter-University Centre (IUC), Dubrovnik, Croatia
*Address: *Don Frana Bulicá 4, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
*Submission date (abstract)*: 15 June 2024
**
*Conference dates: 10-13 September 2024*
Pre-conference dinner: 09 September 2024
Early Career Program: 09 September 2024
*Conference website:* https://wp.me/pcnZAh-uv
*
*
*Theme*
The concept of “guiding distinctions” refers to distinctions /– such as
economy/society, bourgeoisie/proletariat, nature/culture,
system/environment, structure/agency, theory of society/social
technology, or, most recently, analogue/digital –/ that have instructed
theory-building, framed research, sparked controversies, or dominated
discourses in the social sciences and humanities.
Whereas the classics in these fields primarily seemed to offer singular
and dichotomic categorizations, subsequent generations of scholars have
started to recognise the interrelated nature of these categories, along
with their usefulness as generative tools rather than passive
descriptors. The concept of intersectionality, for instance, was
designed to explore how race, class, and gender converge to produce and
sustain complex social observations.
Grounded in seminal work by Spencer Brown (1979), von Foerster (1979),
and Maturana and Varela (1980), for social systems theory in
the tradition of Niklas Luhmann (1995a) distinction is the mode of
operation of all organic, psychic, and social systems, including his own
theory: “a system is the difference between system and environment”
(Luhmann, 2016, p. 44). This “paradoxy of observing systems” (Luhmann,
1995b) is further complicated by the circumstance that systems need to
draw distinctions not only to maintain themselves, but also to observe
other systems.
A subsystem of society as the compassing social system, science is
defined and demarcated by the distinction between truth and untruth.
Science, including social science and the humanities, employs countless
theories and methods to apply this distinction to all other distinctions
that make up life in its organic, psychic, and social environments.
Whereas social systems theory does not claim a monopoly on truth, its
claim is nonetheless universal insofar as there is no domain this theory
cannot be applied to. The theory is, therefore, sufficiently
self-confident to accept the challenge to not only identify, but also
parallel process the most relevant guiding distinctions of the social
sciences and humanities.
A systems-theoretical focus on these guiding distinctions is, first, of
general relevance as a mode of sceptical reflection on past, present,
and future trends in our fields. Second, such a focus is required to
meet the challenges of the ongoing digital transformation of society
and the academic disciplines charged with illuminating the latter.
ICT and the increasing availability of digital data are dramatically
changing the processes of research and knowledge production in social
science and the humanities. While the pace, scale, and scope of
methodological innovation in digital humanities and the computational
social sciences are impressive, theory development is much less dynamic
in our fields (Ossewaarde 2019; Roth 2019). This mismatch is problematic
as digital methods do not only provide ever-larger datasets for the
testing of established theories, but also allow and even call for new
forms of digital theorising (Kitchin 2014). New forms of theorising
might even imply the translation of analogue guiding distinctions into
digital ones (Roth, 2023; Watson, 2023).
Against this backdrop, contributions to the Luhmann Conference 2024
might discuss what have been the most influential guiding distinctions
in the history of theorising in the social sciences and humanities.
Contributions might also identify distinctions that appear particularly
influential today, or venture into explorations of emerging or
yet-unknown guiding distinctions that might influence the future of our
fields. We would also be keen to read submissions devoted to the
historical context, the evolution, or trends of one or several guiding
distinctions. A focus on interplays or interactions of guiding
distinction would also be intriguing, as would be one on the
opportunities and challenges of their integration into universalist
theory architectures based on binary distinctions. Yet other
contributions might discuss the performance or functionality of selected
guiding distinction(s) for specific other systems or society as a whole.
Most welcome are furthermore papers that discuss whether extant guiding
distinctions are still useful in a digital transformation context, as
are contributions that defend selected (sets of) guiding distinctions
regardless of their compatibility with digital theorising in the social
sciences and humanities.
This list of suggested topics is non-exclusive as long contributions are
within the scope of the deliberately broad theme and the necessarily
selective spirit of the conference. **
*References*
* Kitchin, R. (2014).Big Data, new epistemologies and paradigm shifts
<https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2053951714528481>. /Big
Data & Society/, /1/(1), 2053951714528481
* Luhmann, N. (1995a). /Social systems/. Stanford University Press.
* Luhmann, N. (1995b). The paradoxy of observing systems. /Cultural
critique/, (31), 37-55.
* Luhmann, N. (2006). System as difference./Organization/, 13(1), 37–57.
* Maturana, H. R., & Varela, J. F. (1980). Autopoiesis. In J. F.
Varela & H. R. Maturana (Eds.),/Autopoiesis and cognition: The
realization of the living /(pp. 59–134). Reidel.
* Ossewaarde, M. (2019).Digital transformation and the renewal of
social theory: Unpacking the new fraudulent myths and misplaced
metaphors
<https://derroth.com/2019/11/06/release-virtual-special-issue-digital-transformation-of-social-theory/>.
/Technological Forecasting and Social Change//146/, 4-30.
* Roth S. (2019), Digital transformation of social theory. A research
update
<https://derroth.com/2019/05/24/preview-digital-transformation-of-social-theory-a-research-update/>,
/Technological Forecasting and Social Change /146, 88-93.
* Roth, S. (2023).Truth Tables, True Distinctions. Paradoxes of the
Source Code of Science
<https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11213-023-09640-4>.
/Systemic Practice and Action Research/, 1-7.
* Spencer Brown, G. (1979)./Laws of form/. New York: E. P. Dutton.
* von Foerster, H. (1979)./Cybernetics of cybernetics/. Urbana:
University of Illinois.
* Watson, S. (2023)./N-Lemma for paraconsistent logical analysis:
modelling systems with distinct but non-exclusive categories/
<https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374557069_N-Lemma_for_paraconsistent_logical_analysis_modelling_systems_with_distinct_but_non-exclusive_categories_autopoietic_systems>.
Manuscript.
*Submission*
Abstracts of 500–1000 words should reach the corresponding conference
convenors (*) by 15 June 2024 at the latest. Full papers should be
circulated prior to the conference.
**
*Best paper award*
The Next Society Institute <https://next.ksu.lt/> at Kazimieras
Simonavicius University <https://ksu.lt/en/> in Vilnius is pleased to
sponsor an award of EUR 500 for the best paper submitted to the Luhmann
Conference 2024.
*Important dates*
Submission opens on the website luhmannconference.com
<https://luhmannconference.com/> on 01 December 2024.
Submission deadline for abstracts is 15 June 2024.
Letters of Acceptance will be distributed by email 30 June 2024.
The conference programme will be sent to registered participants on 15
August 2024.
The Luhmann Conference 2024 pre-conference dinner is planned for 09
September 2024.
Luhmann Conference 2024: 10-13 September 2024.
*Programme Committee*
**
* Jolanta Bieliauskaitė <https://ksu.lt/en/welcome-from-rector/>,
Kazimieras Simonavicius University, Lithuania
* Lars Clausen <https://www.ucviden.dk/en/persons/lars-clausen>, UCL
University College, Denmark, and Kazimieras Simonavicius University,
Lithuania*
* Steffen Roth <https://derroth.com/>, Excelia Business School La
Rochelle, France, Kazimieras Simonavicius University, Lithuania, and
Inter-University Centre Dubrovnik, Croatia
* Tilia Stingl de Vasconcelos Guedes <http://tiliastingl.com/>,
Vienna University of Applied Sciences for
Management and Communication, Austria
* Kresimir Zazar <https://theta.ffzg.hr/ECTS/Osoba/Index/5572>,
University of Zagreb, Croatia, and Kazimieras Simonavicius
University, Lithuania*
//
/*Corresponding members: //(lacl /at/ ucl.dk)/ <mailto:(lacl /at/ ucl.dk)>/ and
//(kzazar /at/ ffzg.hr)/ <mailto:(kzazar /at/ ffzg.hr)>
*Organising Committee*
* Theresa Arnold
<https://www.wifu.de/en/mitarbeiter/theresa-arnold-2/>, University
of Witten-Herdecke, Germany
* Lina Nagel <https://www.wifu.de/en/mitarbeiter/lina-nagel-2/>,
University of Witten-Herdecke, Germany
* Otto Rosendahl <https://www.utu.fi/en/people/otto-rosendahl>,
University of Turku, Finland
**
*Publication opportunities*
Selected papers submitted to the Luhmann Conference 2024 will be invited
for submission to a dedicated special issue of Management Revue.
Socio-Economic Studies <https://www.nomos.de/en/journals/mrev/> [ESCI,
Scopus, CABS**, VHB C]. The programme committee is also negotiating the
terms and conditions of a second dedicated special issue of a journal in
the broader field of social sciences.
Previous Luhmann Conferences have or are currently being published in
edited volumes or special issues of journals such as
* Roth S. (in progress), Environments. Observed with social systems
theory, /Systems Research and Behavioral Science/.
* Roth S., Zazar K., Clausen L., and Stingl de Vasconcelos Guedes T.
(in print), Scientific Communication. Observed with social systems
theory <https://link.springer.com/collections/jbfccfcifc>, /Systemic
Practice and Action Research/.
* Roth S., Laursen K., and Harste G. (2021), Moral communication.
Observed with social systems theory
<https://derroth.com/2022/03/29/release-special-issue-moral-communication-observed-with-social-systems-theory/>,
/Kybernetes/ /51/(5).
* Roth S., Heidingsfelder M., Clausen L., and Laursen K. (2021),
/George Spencer Brown’s “Design with the NOR”. With related essays/
<https://wp.me/pvO07-1zx>, Bingley: Emerald.
* Febbrajo A. and Harste G. (2013). /Law and Intersystemic
Communication. Understanding “Structural Coupling”. /London: Ashgate
2013
**
*Organisational background*
Annual conferences on applications of Niklas Luhmann’s system theory
have been held in cities such Munich, Copenhagen, Tromsö, Stuttgart,
Montreal, Boston, London, or Stockholm. Translations of Luhmann’s books
are still more numerous, introductions and theoretical contributions are
flourishing. The same is true for empirical studies applying system
theory for comparative studies, case studies, historical analyses, or to
professional fields.
**
*The Inter-University Center Dubrovnik*
**
In the 1980s, Hans-Ulrich Gumbrecht and Ludwig Pfeiffer co-organised a
number of great conferences at the Inter-University Centre of
Post-Graduate Studies (IUC)
<https://steffenroth.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/iuc_brochure_course.pdf> in
Dubrovnik in the former Yugoslavia, now Croatia. Starting in 1981,
Luhmann attended several of these conferences. Conference proceedings
were published in a series of five rather big volumes at the important
Suhrkamp Verlag (/Der/ /Diskurs der Literatur- und Sprachhistorie/,
1983; /Epochenschwellen und Epochenstrukturen im Diskurs der Literatur-
und Sprachhistorie/, 1985; /Sti/l, 1986; /Materialität der
Kommunikation/, 1988; /Paradoxien, Dissonanzen, Zusammenbrüche/, 1991).
Many of these works were dedicated to semantic history and to a system
theory of art.
The IUC was shelled during the siege of Dubrovnik in 1991, and for some
years the conferences could not take place. Today, the IUC has been
completely restored both physically and in spirit.
**
*Practical information *
The conference fee is EUR 100 for early career scholars (PhD students
and post-Docs two years from their first PhD) and EUR 150 for everybody
else. The amount is due in advance by bank transfer once your submission
is accepted and registration confirmed.
The IUC is located in the vicinity of the famous medieval city of
Dubrovnik. Accommodation is available in one of the many Dubrovnik
hotels (Hotel Imperial is the closest to the IUC, but rather expensive.
Hotel Lero is more affordable and located about 1.5 kilometres (1 mile)
from the IUC. Another popular form is one of the many private
accommodations (Room or “Sobe”) which are relatively cheap and can be
found everywhere. Do make sure to book well in advance to get the best
price. The IUC
<https://steffenroth.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/iuc_brochure_course.pdf> also
provides affordable but limited accommodation in the building itself. As
of 01 January 2023, Croatia is part of the Euro area (eurozone).
The conference fee includes catering during coffee breaks. All other
meals are taken at restaurants and cafés in town.
The Dubrovnik airport is situated about 20 kilometres south of Dubrovnik
and connected to the town by regular shuttle busses. Travel by car and
ferryboat is somewhat more complicated, though beautiful.
The weather in September is normally sunny and 20-30 C, though rain is
not impossible.
*Luhmann community groups and supporters @social media*
Anglophone Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2834060864/
<https://www.facebook.com/groups/2834060864/>
Germanophone Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/132998763464111
<https://www.facebook.com/groups/132998763464111>
Scandinavian Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/147050955334098/
<https://www.facebook.com/groups/147050955334098/>
Next Society Institute: https://twitter.com/nexsocinstitute
<https://twitter.com/nexsocinstitute>
Inter-University Centre Dubrovnik: https://twitter.com/IUCDubrovnik
<https://twitter.com/IUCDubrovnik>
Luhmann Conference: https://twitter.com/Luh_Con
<https://twitter.com/Luh_Con>
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