THE HABERMAS LUHMANN DEBATE AND SUBSEQUENT HABERMASIAN PERSPECTIVES ON SYSTEMS-THEORY/

The Habermas/Luhmann debate centers on two questions. One is theoretic al and one ethical. The theoretical question is: Can social processes be explained in primarily systemic terms? The ethical question is: Wha t does reliance upon systems theory do to an advanced industrial socie ty? Since the original debate, Habermas has developed an evolutionary architectonic that accords a role to systems theory. He continues, how ever, to voice objections and reservations about systems theory and Lu hmann in particular. His criticisms need to be seen in their narrow co ntext and brought into general conversation with the wide sweep of con temporary systems thinking. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.