Luhmann, Habermas and the theory of communication

In his critique of Luhmann's sociology, Habermas (1987) argued that individ uation and socialization are possible on the basis of linguistic structures . This critique touches the blind spot of sociological systems theory as a meta-biology. Whereas the paradigm shift from action theory towards communi cation theory was fully reflected in Luhmann's sociology, the difference be tween the self-organization of social systems and the autopoiesis of biolog ical systems remained underspecified. Social systems allow for communicatio n about observations from within the system and/or from another perspective . Observers are able to participate both in the variation and in the select ion; Giddens (1976) introduced in this context the metaphor of a 'double he rmeneutics'. Through language the distinction between uncertainty and meani ngful information is communicated reflexively, and the consequent codificat ion may be changed without becoming confused. The implied communicative com petences can be specified from the perspective of communication theory. Cop yright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.