Upload
others
View
1
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Hello all!
This is a preliminary version of our next newsletter
32, which contains some useful information for this
week in Vienna: The RC51 social network presence
(page 1), four attractions that may not be in the
main touristic booklets but can be also visited this
week (page 5), and the sessions programme (page
12).
Please also remember that all sessions will be at
Juridicum, Hörsaal 15, see you there
Thank you Chaime, Patricia, Luciano and Jorge for
your support to make this possible!
Juancho
1
RC51 on Sociocybernetics Social Networks Presence
By Luciano GALLÓN
2016.06
This is a short report on the so-called e-Presence of our RC51 on Sociocybernetics
community. You are very welcome to join us if have not do it so far:
Social Network
How to reach it Members
as 2015.06.15
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1792820 488
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/ISARC51Sociocybernetics/ 33
Mendeley https://www.mendeley.com/groups/7015891/isa-rc51-on-sociocybernetics/
4
WebPage https://sociocybernetics.wordpress.com/
JoS https://papiro.unizar.es/ojs/index.php/rc51-jos/index
As you can see, LinkedIn is the one with more members, followed by Facebook that have
been getting more acceptance for academic audiences.
Our webpage and our Journal of Sociocybernetics (JoS) do not work on membership
basis, but, in particular our webpage, give us the possibility to know some interesting
information of our community as number of visits by country. For example, on Figure 1,
you can see the 2012 visits and, on Figure 2, for 2015.
2
Figure 1. RC51 2012 webpage visits.
3
Figure 2. RC51 2015 webpage visits.
The top20 countries that visit our website since 2012 can be noted on Table 1.
Table 1- 2012-2016 top20 RC51 website visitors by country
2012 2013 2014 2015
Country Visits Country Visits Country Visits Country Visits
Portugal 655 Mexico 1147 Mexico 465 Spain 798 United States 578 United States 473 United States 406 Mexico 596 Spain 403 Germany 358 Germany 187 Romania 547 Germany 341 Spain 337 Italy 168 United States 468 Mexico 262 Italy 319 Japan 161 Germany 351 United Kingdom 241 Japan 302 United Kingdom 154
United Kingdom 246
Italy 200 United Kingdom 294 Spain 128 Japan 220 Philippines 164 Portugal 237 Portugal 125 Portugal 205 Austria 154 Colombia 193 Brazil 103 Canada 166 Canada 127 Canada 174 Colombia 98 India 166 Japan 126 Poland 145 Romania 55 Denmark 131 Russia 113 Brazil 112 Austria 55 Russia 119 India 106 Turkey 109 Denmark 54 Poland 114 Sweden 98 India 97 Canada 53 Belgium 113
4
Turkey 91 Netherlands 89 Russia 45 Colombia 99 Argentina 87 France 84 Slovakia 43 Italy 94 Hong Kong 81 Greece 70 Netherlands 41 Brazil 87 Poland 79 Argentina 67 Poland 40 Argentina 76 Latvia 72 Sweden 60 Chile 40 Australia 63 Colombia 67 Austria 40 Australia 38 Netherlands 57
5
Four places to visit in Vienna this week
By Jorge Cardiel
For us attending the upcoming Third ISA Forum of Sociology, it is well
known that the city of Vienna offers a wide range of cultural attractions
deserving a visit. That is why, aside from the main touristic attractions,
which are also worthy looking at but you will find in every city map, we
present a short selection of places and museums to attend which, in our
opinion, are essential to the history of Viennese art and thought.
1. Wittgenstein’s House
3., Parkgasse 18
U3: Rochusgasse,
bus 4A: Geusaugasse
tel. 713 31 64
Mon - Fri 10 am - noon and 3 - 4:30 pm
by prior arrangement only
6
«I am not interested in erecting a building, but in [...] presenting to
myself the foundations of all possible buildings.»
— Ludwig Wittgenstein
Haus Wittgenstein, (also known as the Stonborough House and the
Wittgenstein House) is a house in the modernist style designed and built
on the Kundmanngasse, Vienna, by the Austrian architect Paul
Engelmann and the Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. It is said
that in its severity and simplicity, the structure reflects the logical clarity
of Wittgenstein's thinking. Wittgenstein worked on Haus Wittgenstein
between 1926 and 1929.
In 1926 Wittgenstein was working as a gardener for a number of months
at the monastery of Hütteldorf, where he had also inquired about
becoming a monk. His sister, Margaret, invited him to help with the
design of her new townhouse in Vienna's Kundmanngasse.
Wittgenstein, his friend Paul Engelmann, and a team of architects
developed a spare modernist house. In particular, Wittgenstein focused
on the windows, doors, and radiators, demanding that every detail be
exactly as he specified. When the house was nearly finished
Wittgenstein had an entire ceiling raised 30mm so that the room had the
exact proportions he wanted. Ray Monk, Wittgenstein’s biographer,
writes: «This is not so marginal as it may at first appear, for it is precisely
these details that lend what is otherwise a rather plain, even ugly house
its distinctive beauty.»
7
It took him a year to design the door handles and another to design the
radiators. Each window was covered by a metal screen that weighed
150 kg, moved by a pulley Wittgenstein designed. Bernhard Leitner,
author of The Architecture of Ludwig Wittgenstein, said there is barely
anything comparable in the history of interior design: «It is as ingenious
as it is expensive. A metal curtain that could be lowered into the floor».
The house was finished by December 1928 and the family gathered
there at Christmas to celebrate its completion. Wittgenstein's sister
Hermine wrote: «Even though I admired the house very much… It
seemed indeed to be much more a dwelling for the gods». Wittgenstein
said «the house I built for Gretl is the product of a decidedly sensitive
ear and good manners, and expression of great understanding... But
primordial life, wild life striving to erupt into the open– that is lacking».
Monk comments that the same might be said of the technically excellent,
but austere, terracotta sculpture Wittgenstein had modelled of
Marguerite Respinger in 1926, and that, as Russell first noticed, this
«wild life striving to be in the open» was precisely the substance of
Wittgenstein's philosophical work.
After World War II, the house became a barracks and stables for
Russian soldiers. It was owned by Thomas Stonborough, son of
Margaret until 1968 when it was sold to a developer for demolition. For
two years after this the house was under threat of demolition. The
Vienna Landmark Commission saved it and made it a national
monument in 1971, and since 1975 it has housed the cultural
department of the Bulgarian Embassy.
Link: A Dwelling for the Gods by Stuart Jeffries
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2002/jan/05/arts.highereducation
8
2. Sigmund Freud Museum
Berggasse 19
1090 Vienna
Austria
Subway: U2 Schottentor, U4
Schottenring
Tram: D Schlickgasse, 37, 38, 40, 41,
42 Schwarzspanierstraße
Bus: 40 A Berggasse
Daily open (Monday – Sunday),
10.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m.
The Sigmund Freud Museum in
Vienna is a museum founded in 1971
covering Sigmund Freud's life story. It is located in the Alsergrund
district, at Berggasse 19. In 2003 the museum was put in the hands of
the newly established Sigmund Freud Foundation, which has since
received the entire building as an endowment. It also covers the history
of psychoanalysis.
The museum consists of Freud's former practice and a part of his old
private quarters. Attached to the museum are Europe's largest
psychoanalytic research library, with 35,000 volumes, and the research
institute of the Sigmund Freud Foundation. The display includes original
items owned by Freud, the practice's waiting room, and parts of Freud's
extensive antique collection. However his famous couch is now in the
Freud Museum in London, along with most of the original furnishings, as
Freud was able to take his furniture with him when he emigrated. A third
Freud Museum, after London and Vienna, was started in the Czech town
of Příbor in 2006 when the house of his birth was opened to the public.
The museum contains an archive of images containing around two
thousand documents, mostly photographs, but also paintings, drawings,
9
and sculptures. The collection consists of almost all of the existing
photos of Sigmund Freud and his family, a large number of photos of
Anna Freud and photos from psychoanalytic congresses.
Since 1971, the Sigmund Freud Museum has been welcoming visitors
in Sigmund Freud’s former office and apartment. Formerly a room of
commemoration, the Sigmund Freud Museum has developed into a
tourist attraction with more than 80,000 visitors per year and a place of
debate and discussion with research and education projects, scientific
events and Europe's largest library on Psychoanalysis.
3. Haus der Musik (House of Music)
The Haus der Musik (House of Music) in Vienna opened in 2000, and is
the first museum of sound and music in Austria. Across an exhibition
space of 54,000 sq. ft., a range of hi-tech interactive and multimedia
presentations introduce the world of music, from the earliest human use
of instruments to the music of the present day.
Those involved in developing the museum included four Austrian
universities, two foreign university institutes, a team of musicians and
music theorists, artists from multimedia and other areas, sound
technicians, architects, and students. In 2002 the Haus der Musik was
awarded the Austrian Museum Prize for its innovative conception. In
2009 it was the 19th most popular attraction in Vienna, with 205,000
visitors.
10
Haus der Musik is an interactive sound museum which provides a new
approach to music on a playful as well as scientific level. For years the
aim has been to provide knowledge and understanding as well as open-
mindedness and enthusiasm when dealing with music. Since its opening
in 2000, Haus der Musik has welcomed over 2,7 million visitors. In
addition to the interactive exhibition, Haus der Musik offers a dense
programme including live concerts, artist talks, and a varied agenda
particularly for children as well as music festivals.
At one time the former Palais of Archduke Charles, today's Haus der
Musik was also the residence of Otto Nicolai (1810 - 1849), who
composed the opera "The Merry Wives of Windsor" and founded the
Vienna Philharmonic concerts here. On the "Beletage" first floor, the only
historically preserved rooms in the house, the Vienna Philharmonic
present original documents from their history.
After it opened its doors to the public, Maestro Zubin Mehta assumed
Haus der Musik’s honorary chairmanship. What inspired him to do so
was the cheerful and direct presentation of the musical material that
brings people with a wide range of music tastes together, gets them
talking, grabs their interest and counteracts any preconceived notions
associated with encountering music from an intellectual and
musicological point of view.
Vienna has always been a city of musical innovation and a place where
people were not afraid to try the unconventional. Haus der Musik seeks
to reflect Vienna‘s pioneering character in terms of music by offering
theirs visitors inventive and novel approaches deliberately distinct from
classical music education. Besides historical aspects Haus der Musik
puts a particular emphasis on the interplay of natural and electronic
sound production and the relationship between analogue and digital.
They seek to build bridges between tradition and innovation. Thus the
aesthetic and artistic translation of musicological content finds its
expression in the architectural combination of a historical building
structure with high-tech elements.
Link: http://www.hausdermusik.com
11
4. Arnold Schönberg Center
Schwarzenbergplatz 6
Zaunergasse 1-3 (Entrance)
A-1030 Wien
Mo - Fr 10 - 17 Uhr
The Arnold Schönberg Center, established in 1998 in Vienna, is an
unique repository of Arnold Schönberg’s archival legacy and a cultural
center that is open to the public.
Arnold Schönberg – composer, painter, teacher, theoretician and
innovator – was born in Vienna in 1874 and died in Los Angeles in 1951.
He also resided in Berlin, Barcelona, Paris and Boston. In music history
Schönberg’s name is associated with an epoch-making innovation: the
“Method of composing with twelve tones which are related only with one
another.”
Exhibitions on Schönberg’s life and work, a gallery of his paintings, a
replica of his Los Angeles study, a library on topics relating to the
Viennese School, as well as concerts, lectures, workshops and
symposia all contribute to a comprehensive experience that will enable
the visitor to better understand Schönberg’s contributions to music and
the arts.
Activities at the Center are geared not only to the dedicated scholar but
also to the general public. Professional assistance is granted for
examining and studying Schönberg’s music manuscripts, writings and
his correspondence. Scholarly results of the Center’s symposia are
being published through the periodical “Journal of the Arnold Schönberg
Center.” A museum shop includes publications in various languages,
scores and both current and historic recordings of Schönberg’s works.
12
RC 51 on Sociocybernetics
Sessions Program
—booklet—
13
All sessions will be at Juridicum, Hörsaal 15
Monday, 11 July 2016:
09:00 - 10:30
Modern Sociological Systems Theory in Practice – Applications to Societal
Problems. Session Organizer, Karl-Heinz SIMON, University of Kassel, Germany
10:45 - 12:15
Critical Assessment of Systems Approach in Sociology: To Update the Theory of
Society. Session Organizer: Saburo AKAHORI, Tokyo Woman’s Christian University,
Japan
14:15 - 15:45
Sociocybernetics, Simulation and Anticipation: Paradigms and Challenges. Session
Organizer: Luciano GALLON, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Colombia
16:00 - 17:30
Sociocybernetic Understandings of the Human Condition. Session Organizer:
Bernard SCOTT, Centre for Sociocybernetics Studies, United Kingdom
Tuesday, 12 July
09:00 - 10:30,
Sociocybernetics and Complex Problems. Part I. Session Organizer: Patricia
ALMAGUER-KALIXTO, UAdeC-UNAM, Mexico
10:45 - 12:15,
Sociocybernetics and Complex Problems. Part II. Session Organizer: Juan David
GOMEZ QUINTERO, University of Zaragoza. Psicology and Sociology, Spain
14:15 - 15:45,
Data and Society. Session Organizer: Fabio GIGLIETTO, University of Urbino Carlo
Bo, Italy.
16:00 - 17:30,
14
Sociocybernetics, Transitional Justice and Other Issues. Session Organizers:
Michael PAETAU, Center for Sociocybernetics Studies, Germany and Pedro
ESCRICHE, Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain
18.00-19.00,
RC51 Board Meeting
Wednesday, 13 July
09:00 - 10:30,
La Investigación Interdisciplinaria desde la Sociocibernética y Sistemas Sociales
Complejos. Session Organizer: Elisa Margarita MAASS, UNAM, Mexico
10:45 - 12:15,
Science Its Power, Responsibility and the Limits of Human Knowing. Session
Organizer: Arne KJELLMAN, Stockholm University, Sweden
14:15 - 15:45,
Social Forces behind Our Backs - Searching for Points of Intervention. Session
Organizers: John RAVEN, Eye on Society, United Kingdom and Bernd HORNUNG,
University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Germany
16:00 - 17:30,
RC51 Business Meeting
Thursday, 14 July
09:00 - 10:30,
Inclusive Innovation for Inclusive Growth. Session Organizer: Eva BUCHINGER,
Austrian Institute of Technology AIT, Austria
10:45 - 12:15,
Epistemic Uncertainty and Complexity Theories. Session Organizer: Andrea PITASI,
World Complexity Science Academy, Italy
15
16
3rd ISA FORUM OF SOCIOLOGY http://www.isa-sociology.org/forum-2016/
Forum President
Markus S. SCHULZ, ISA Vice-President Research, New School for Social Research, New York, USA
Forum Vice-Presidents
Margaret ABRAHAM, ISA President, Hofstra University, USA
Rudolf RICHTER, Chair, Local Organizing Committee, University of Vienna, Austria
RC51 Program Coordinators
Chaime Marcuello Servós (Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain)
Patricia E. Almaguer-Kalixto (Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain)
17
Monday, 11 July 2016:
09:00 - 10:30,
Modern Sociological Systems Theory in Practice – Applications to Societal Problems
Session Organizer & Chair: Karl-Heinz SIMON, University of Kassel, Germany. Email: [email protected]
Systems Theory and Governing: Towards a Sociological Theory of Societal Efforts
Toru TAKAHASHI, Chuo University, Japan
Our societies are faced with various and numerous challenges at local, national, supranational and global levels.
A multitude of actors with a variety of skills are tackling these challenges at each level. Actors from any functional
domains (such as scientists, jurists, artists etc.) can contribute to such efforts with their expertise. And they often
organize borderless networks of collaborations that expand across these levels. This situation even undermines
the theoretical importance of spatial distinctions such as local/ global. This paper uses the adjective “societal”
as connoting a horizon of social order which encompasses every spatial level and functional domain. So, societal
efforts include from local practice of civic volunteers to multifunctional practice, which mobilizes a variety of
expertise, through borderless networks.
Jan Kooiman’s “sociocybernetic” theory of governance provides us a set of technical terms to describe societal
efforts. He formulates people’s practice to achieve common goals as “governing”. How can sociological theory,
especially social systems theory, formulate societal governing from its own perspectives? Niklas Luhmann
prepares a specified category for protest movements (social movements) as one of four types of autopoietic
social systems. However, while actors of movements and resolvers of targeted problems are often separated in
protest movements (for instance, civic protesters and government), actors in societal efforts are trying to be
resolvers. Despite the difference between nature of protest movements and societal efforts, Luhmann’s theory
of protest movements can be a good starting ground to elaborate the concept of societal efforts from a
perspective of sociological theory.
The Sociology of Complex Social Systems: Applications of Moderns Systems Theory to Practical
Problems
Tom R. BURNS, Uppsala University, Sweden, Nora MACHADO DES JOHANSSON, ISCTE-IUL ISCTE -
University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal, Dolores CALVO, Gothenburg University, Sweden, Ugo
CORTE, Department of Sociology, University of Uppsala, Sweden, Alexandra WALKER, Australian
National University, Australia, Ilan KELMAN, University College London, England and Monica
FREITAS, Faculty of Social Science, Nova University of Lisbon, Portugal
This article outlines a sociological systems theory, drawing on the work of Walter Buckley, Margaret Archer,
Thomas Baumgartner, Tom R. Burns, Philippe DeVille, Felix Geyer, and others.. The work has shown how key
social science concepts are readily incorporated and applied in system description and analysis: institutional,
cultural, and normative conceptualizations; concepts of human agency and social movements; diverse types of
18
roles and social relationships; social systems in relation to one another and in relation to the natural environment
and material systems; and processes of transformation and sustainability.
A key feature of the theory is its consideration of social systems as open to, and interacting with, their social
and physical environments. Through interaction with their environment—as well as through internal
processes—such systems acquire new properties and are transformed, resulting in evolutionary developments.
The theory incorporates in its framework human agents as creative (destructive) transforming forces. They may
choose to deviate, oppose, or act in innovative and even perverse ways relative to the norms, values, and social
structures of the particular social systems within which they act and interact.
The theoretical approach has entailed several key applications, each of which will be briefly
illustrated/exemplified in the paper: (1) the conceptualization of human agents as creative (also destructive),
and drivers of innovation and creative development within particular social system contexts; (2) the
conceptualization of collective consciousness in terms of self-representation and self-reflectivity and applied in
analyses of the gaps and dilemmas of international law regarding gender equality; (3) a theory identifying the
universal features of groups and organizations and their dynamics; (4) a theory of paradigm shifts in policy
regimes and regulative institutions (selected case studies of major EU policy shifts); (5) transition and
transformation of social systems: selected historical cases as well as the ongoing “sustainability revolution.”
Towards a Sistemic Theory of Irregular Migration
Gabriel ECHEVERRIA CUBELLO, Universita degli Studi di Trento, Italy
A great number of different theories have been proposed to explain the causes of irregular migration. Broadly
speaking, two opposite arguments have been proposed. On the one hand, the idea of a “decadent state”, which,
overwhelmed by the forces of globalization, would not be able to control migration fluxes anymore. On the other
hand, the idea of an “almighty state”, which, in order to fulfil its own or other social interests, would “produce”
or “favour” the existence of irregularity. While certainly illuminating of important aspects, all these theories
appear to be affected by three important limitations: they offer mono-causal explanations; tend to overstate
the role of the state (even when they diagnose its current or upcoming decline); are unable to explain the
emergence of irregular migration within different contexts. All these theoretical limitations can be linked to an
inadequate, largely influenced by the modern state semantics, conceptualization of modern society. The
proposed paper will present the results a theoretical study, which, building on the critiques to the principal
theoretical explanations of irregular migration, focused on the theoretical work of Niklas Luhmann in search for
a more convincing theoretical framework. This approach helped to overcome most of the theoretical difficulties
and paradoxes that have characterized the field of research. It allowed to go beyond a dichotomist
understanding of the relation between agency/structure and to retrieve a social perspective where a statist one
had been clearly dominant. Irregular migration emerged as a complex, differentiated, structural phenomenon
of modern world society. Its development was related to the existing structural mismatch between the dominant
form of social differentiation (functional) and the specific form of internal differentiation (segmentary) into
territorial states of the political system.
Refugees Welcome? Mass Migration As a Highly Complex Steering Problem
Michael PAETAU, Center for Sociocybernetics Studies, Bonn, Germany
The exodus of refugees in the year 2015 from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and different countries of Africa to Europe
hits the European Union in a complicated situation, where the economic and social positions of the single
member states heavily differ from each other and no consensus exists about an adequate strategy how to handle
the surge of refugees pounding at Europe's gates. Finding a solution which can operate even on an approximate
19
adequate basis, requires a way of thinking and analysis which is able to deal with highly complex and dynamic
matters.
The paper proposed here, will show the potential of SOCIOCYBERNETICS to do this. It concentrates on the
situation at the second half of the year 2015 in Germany, when the German government declared its willingness
to accept entry of a very large number of refugees for offering them asylum. In contrary to earlier situations the
German government and the German public accept that the question whether the refugees after a while will
return to their homeland or not is an open question and one have to recognize that most of them will stay in
Germany or another European country for the future.
This presumption requires strategies to ensure the inclusion of a large number of asylum-seekers into society
(and that means in all social systems) at an early stage. My paper using an observable model will show which
arrangements are necessary in three different respects:
1) for different social systems (economy, education, family, health, etc.),
2) on different administrative levels (federal, single German states, administrative districts and municipality),
and
3) in different time frames (immediately after arrival, within the first three month, within the first year, three
years etc.).
Structural Coupling: Conflicts and Co-Evolution Between Religious Animal Release and Ecological
Risk
Hsiao-Mei JUAN, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan
This essay examines the animal release in Taiwanese Buddhism and the dissents it faces mainly from the
environmental or animal protection groups. According to the German sociologist, Niklas Luhmann, these two
fronts are regarded as separately closed social systems, operating religious and ecological communications
respectively. They produce autonomously their own elements of which they consist. The relationship between
the religious and ecological systems can be described as a “structural coupling”. In such a coupling, each system
takes critics, dissents and conflicts from outside seriously, but their interplay is not casually determined. Related
systems experience dissents as irritations and undergo a process of inter-translation.
This essay first introduces the concepts of autonomous self-organization of social systems and structural
coupling in light of Luhmann’s theory. Luhmann’s theory offers an interesting frame to examine empirically the
interplay of animal release in Taiwanese Buddhism and the ecological risks it may cause. This seems to be a
promising way to explain how a system thematizes the irritations from outside as its own problem and offers
only solutions with which it can connect internally, avoiding the presumption of a pre-given consensus and line-
determination.
10:45 - 12:15,
Critical Assessment of Systems Approach in Sociology: To Update the Theory of Society
Session Organizer: Saburo AKAHORI, Tokyo Woman’s Christian University, Japan
Chair: Eva BUCHINGER, Austrian Institute of Technology AIT, Austria
20
Communication and Situated Intra-Action: Entangling Systems Theory and New Materialism
Cornelia SCHADLER, University of Vienna, Austria and Jasmin SIRI, Ludwigs Maximilians University
Munich, Germany
For Luhmann communication is the basic foundation of society. His notion of communication includes concepts
of radical temporality (because communication has to be altered on a regular basis), process ontologies (because
communication connects instable and constantly reconfiguring systems), anti-humanisms (because humans are
not the sole cause of communication) and anti-dualisms (because communication is neither merely natural nor
cultural or structural nor individual). Within the last decades postmodern, post-structural or non-
representational theories made similar claims. Most recently a nexus of theories subsumed under the notion of
“New Materialism” (Dolphijn & Van der Tuin 2012) ventures into that territory. New Materialisms (Barad 2007,
Braidotti 2013) trouble boundaries and in particular human boundaries. Agency becomes a process of intra-
action that is situated within material-discursive processes in constant differentiation.
In this talk we aim to discuss fruitful irritations of Systems Theory and New Materialism. Most recently a
discussion about the critical potentials of Systems Theory has emerged (Amstutz & Fischer-Lescano 2014, Siri &
Möller 2015) and discussed normative potentials as well as ‘blind spots’ of this theory of society. By focusing on
Karen Barads Agential Realism (2007) and a critical reading of Luhmann’s works we encounter and condense
entanglements between two theoretical worlds, which seem to be severely imcompatible only at the first glance.
By approaching empirical phenomenons with a mix of Luhmann’s Functional Analysis and New Materialist
ethnographies strengths and blind spots of both perspectives can be balanced and analyzed theoretically.
Barad, Karen (2007) Meeting the Universe Halfway: Quantum Physics and the Entanglement of Matter and
Meaning. Durham.
Siri, Jasmin & Möller, Kolja (2015) (Eds.). Systemtheorie & Kritik. Special Issue von Soziale Systeme. Bielefeld.
Amstutz, Marc & Fischer-Lescano, Andreas (2014) (Eds.) Kritische Systemtheorie. Zur Evolution einer normativen
Theorie. Bielefeld.
Braidotti, Rosi (2013) The Posthuman. Cambridge.
Convergences of General System Theory, Critical Realism and Theory of Society
Wolfgang HOFKIRCHNER, Vienna University of Technology, Austria; Bertalanffy Center for the
study of systems science, Austria
This paper discusses philosophical, that is, praxiological, ontological and epistemological foundations of a theory
of social systems. In particular, it addresses the confluence of critical thinking and systems thinking – of Critical
Theory and Systems Philosophy – in the context of social theory. Critical Theory has its origins in the Frankfurt
School going back to Marx and has developed since into a variety of different approaches. Systems Philosophy
is considered as having its origins in Ludwig von Bertalanffy’s General System Theory. It has been developing in
the discourse about Evolutionary Systems and Complexity Thinking.
A special focus is given to the post-Luhmannian attempts to reframe the social (Wan 2011). They show a striking
affinity of two strands: Critical Realism, on the one hand, that is grounded in some Marxian assumptions and
dialectical logic, and Emergentist Systemism, on the other, as the gist of Systems Philosophy so far (Hofkirchner
2013, 2014, 2015, 2016).
21
In the light of those convergences, also some Luhmannian topoi can be revisited and interpreted so as to fit a
more coherent social theory.
Wolfgang Hofkirchner (2013) Self-Organisation as the Mechanism of Development and Evolution in
Social Systems. In: Archer, M. S. (ed.), Social Morphogenesis, Springer, Dordrecht, 125-143
Wolfgang Hofkirchner (2014) On the Validity of Describing ‘Morphogenic Society’ as a System and Justifiability of
Thinking About It as a Social Formation. In: Archer, M. S. (ed.), Late Modernity, Springer, Dordrecht, 119-141
Wolfgang Hofkirchner (2015) “Mechanisms” at Work in the Information Society. In: Archer, M. S. (ed.), Generative
Mechanisms Transforming the Social Order, Springer, Dordrecht, 95-112
Wolfgang Hofkirchner (2016) Ethics from Systems: Origin, Development and Current State of Normativity. In:
Archer, M. S. (ed.), Morphogenesis and Normativity, Springer, Dordrecht, 239-253 (in print)
Poe Yu-Ze Wan (2011) Reframing the Social: Emergentist Systemism and Social Theory. Ashgate, Surrey
Gradual Differentiation and Justifiable Cognizance: Adjusting the Notion of Functional
Differentiation
Isabel KUSCHE, Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Denmark
A central point of Luhmann’s theory of society is the importance of functional differentiation as the defining
feature of modern (world) society. The notion of function systems is very helpful in this regard and it has allowed
an advancement of the theory of society in many respects. Nevertheless there are also some limitations in using
Luhmann’s systems theory in this context. I would like to point out two major difficulties. First, the concept of
autopoiesis, which is attractive from the point of view of theoretical generalization, becomes a hindrance when
the aim is to account for the empirical variety of world society. The notion of autopoiesis makes it difficult to
think of differentiation as a gradual concept, which is however necessary in order to understand the outcome of
worldwide differentiation processes. A return to earlier versions of Luhmann’s theory that did without
autopoiesis may be the remedy in this regard. Second, Luhmann’s theory lacks sensitivity when it comes to actual
new societal developments such as the internet. Consequences – for example with regard to copyright and
property regimes – are not just a matter of the operation of different function systems, but the cognizance of
the latter is not yet routinized. Therefore, questions of worth and justification are especially relevant in such
context, but ignored by Luhmann’s theory. I propose that Boltanski’s and Thévenot’s work on conventions of
justification may be used in order to address this blind spot of the theory.
Towards a De-Ontologized Notion of Society
Till JANSEN, University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany
One of Niklas Luhmanns´ main theoretical aims was to build a de-ontologized theory. However, the very core of
his theoretical design, the famous assumption that there are systems made at the beginning of “Social Systems”,
proofed to be the root for such an ontology of the social: His theory of society proposes a clear-cut set of systems
that are thought of as existing, having structures, containing center and periphery. Luhmann ends up with a
theory that in a certain way is the opposite of the theoretical design he aimed at. His later preference for other
theoretical foundations (e.g. George Spencer-Brown, Gotthard Günther) can be regarded as a response to the
shortcomings of his initial concept of social systems. However, his theorizing never fully left the solid ground of
this very concept.
This raises the question for a new foundation of a theory of society that offers a higher degree of de-ontologized
thinking. I would like to propose strengthening Günthers notion of polycontexturality that has been partly
adopted by Luhmann, who is using it as a description for functional differentiation. Drawing from the idealist
tradition (Fichte & Hegel), Günther formalizes social relations. Instead of assuming an ontologically fixed entity
22
as social or psychic systems, he starts with the immediacy of being and reflexivity that does not have to be given
a fixed ontological place but is thought of as logical area (contexture). Starting from this purely formal concept
he develops a theory of multiple reflexive positions that link up to what he calls compound-contextures. From
this perspective a theory of society would be less clear-cut and much more dynamic. The ontology of a society
consisting of orderly function systems would give way to a vibrating notion of interlinked, ontologically not
defined reflexive spheres.
Money As a Medium/Form-Distinction: The Challenge of Blockchain-Economy to Luhmann's
Concept of Money As a Symbolically Generalized Communication Medium.
Michael PAETAU, Center for Sociocybernetics Studies, Bonn, Germany
With the emerge of „Bitcoin“ since 2008 a new understanding of money arose which is a great challenge for
Economic-Theory. Blockchain-Economy, based of experiences with Bitcoin says: Looking for a medium to solve
the problem of the failing coincidence of wants at a certain stage of market-complexity, it was not in every case
necessary to find a good which could play the role of an general equivalent to the complete world of goods on
the market. It was sufficient and easier to account credits and debits of the actors of the market, and at certain
point of time it was balanced. This idea turns the traditional understanding on the nature of money upside down:
Money is nothing than a form of credit (or debit) represented by a special form of currency. So Money is a sign
for a specific social relation. In this view Money is not a good, it is the system of credit account and their clearing
that currency represents. In his work „Die Gesellschaft der Gesellschaft“ Luhmann calls the attention on the fact,
that in economics the concept of money is reasoned with the facilitation of exchange but doesn't consider the
medium, in which exchange take place. So – this is Luhmann's consequence - there is no reason for sociologists
to take over this initial point of the economic discourse. „Probably money was generated not with respect to its
intermediate function for exchange but as a sign for unbalanced performance ratios, first probably in household
economies.“ (GdG 348) Even if systems thinking Sociology is better prepared for the challenge of cryptocurrency
there are open questions. Particulary for Luhmann's Theory of Social Systems the question arise, if BITCOIN
would modify the code in the sence, that a new media/form-difference could be dominant in the economic
system of society.
14:15 - 15:45
Sociocybernetics, Simulation and Anticipation: Paradigms and Challenges
Session Organizer:Luciano GALLON, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Colombia
Chair: Roberto MANCILLA, (RC51 Member), Mexico
Sociocybernetics: Designing Mathematical Models and Its Simulation As a Decision Support
System.
Dr. Héctor Zamorano, Facultad Ciencias Económicas y Estadística, Universidad de Rosario –
Argentina
23
Is it possible to make experiments within Social Sciences? Some would say "NO" because after the first
experiment the social system learns and reacts differently. However, if we have a good model, we can
experiment simulating the model.
Into the organizations, the managers must take decisions in order to solve a problem, but sometimes they make
it worse. This is because “the rapidly increasing difficulty of action and decision in such a complex and highly
dynamic world”. (HORNUNG). To coop with this difficulty the human brain and their mental models are not
enough. It would be necessary, first of all, to have the ability to see the world as a complex system, where
everything is connected to everything.
System Dynamics is a method to enhance approaching to complex systems. System Dynamics to deal with the
complex systems into the organizations requires tools to represent the mental models formal models and
simulation methods to test and design new policies or to test our hypothesis without affecting the real system
to have a long term view of the consequences of our decisions Cybernetics provides us a key concept: FEED
FORWARD that will let us to work with “government” concept instead of “controlling”.
This requires a circular – causality reasoning instead the linear reasoning.
“The art of system dynamics modeling is discovering and representing the feedback processes, which, along with
stock and flow structures, time delays, and nonlinearities, determine the dynamics of a system.” (STERMAN).
This kind of tools let us to create virtual worlds. Virtual Worlds “are formal models, simulations, or “microworlds”
in which decision makers can refresh decision-making skills, conduct experiments, and play.” (STERMAN)
Characterization of Development Models and Its Impact on Policy Implementation
Gerson BEDOYA and Luciano GALLON, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Colombia
The Global Models to explain human development on the planet have been conceived to be important and
useful. They are the result of simulation methodologies and paradigms for viewing the world in their macro
dynamics, considering a large number of possible causes of the problems that arise, and that, based on historical
data, shows how the world will behave in a determined future in different possible scenarios. They were born
due to the global concern about the impact human actions have on the environment, for the unsustainability of
population and economic growth and for the disappointing results of recurrently approved government's
programs to combat those problems. The aim of the global models is to provide the necessary tools to formulate
alternative answers for humanity steer toward the best-case scenario. They have made many, but others need
to be developed that serve to analyze specific contexts such as South America or Colombia. This work takes stock
of a representative set of global models of the past sixty years to characterize and identify the paradigms and
assumptions that support them, their structures, results and, particularly, components that may be useful for
future design and construction of a system dynamics model to study the performance of the implementation of
development policies.
Critical Sociocybernetics and Mediascapes in North America: Prospective Scenarios
Juan Carlos BARRON-PASTOR, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico
The broad goal of the research is developing the field of “Critical Sociocybernetics”. This incipient field intends
studying social systems considering power inequalities and seeking the critique and transformation of those
systems for society’s viability (Barron, 2014). It is based on the one hand that social systems can be captured by
very exclusive sectors of societies aiming to enhance its power in order to control territories and populations.
On the other hand, it is affirmed that social systems perform in complex ways that can be studied using
sociocybernetics’ tools; but not to describe neither naturalize its functioning, but all the opposite: to exhibit its
forms of control and the mechanisms it uses to reproduce its power impairing societies.
24
Mass-media is an adaptive social system of communication that excludes corporeal presence among interacting
actors (Luhmann, 1996). Mass-media perform a fragmented collective imaginary, which is autonomous and
parallel to individual and collective imaginaries (Castoriadis, 1998). Hegemonic mass-media system is performing
autopoietically for the better of its owners, not of society; hegemonic mass-media is an adaptive system seeking
the reproduction and expansion of its power (Barrón, 2014). Mass-media could be arguably considered an
anticipatory system. ‘‘An anticipatory system is a system containing a predictive model of itself and/or its
environment, which allows it to change state at an instant in accord with the model’s predictions pertaining to
a later instant’’ (Rosen, 1985: 341). Rosen, and more recently, Poli (2010) have explained that anticipatory
systems enable certain controllers that allow them forestalling.
How do the North-American mass-media system perform in manners that allow us to infer those controllers?
This paper aims to identify how controllers would work into the mass-media system, and eventually identifying
if controllers could be emerging nodes inserted in other systems in North America, and/or within media
corporations.
The Work of Pickering and Luhmann Theoretically Viewed from within Current Social Work
Practice
Raija KOSKINEN, University of Helsinki, Finland
In his book The Cybernetic Brain Sketches for Another Future Pickering (2011) disseminates the English
cybernetics in a very practical manner by presenting few central scholars and their actual doings. Furthermore,
he elaborates further his own thinking presented in 1995 in the The Mangle of Practice Time, Agency and
Science. The work of Pickering has been influental in the field of science and technology studies.
The theory of social systems developed by Niklas Luhmann has been widely utilized when studying social work
and social services. In this paper the contribution of Pickering is brought into a dialogue with Luhmannian
theories of society. This is done in order to achieve new understanding useful when studying the mangle of
practice in current social services dealing with new innovations and technologies.
Society As an Observing System: A Perspective By Incongruity?
Saburo AKAHORI, Tokyo Woman’s Christian University, Japan
It is not limited to Niklas Luhmann’s case, systems thinking has been one of the most important sources of
sociological insights. At the same time sociological systems theory sometimes tends to be blamed as
unintelligible. However, generally speaking, abstract theory makes things clear. If things become more complex
because of sociological systems theory, it must be dysfunctioning. From such a viewpoint, we focus on the notion
of society as an observer (or, observing system) in Luhmann’s theory, especially on the connection between
systems theory and sociological theory. The main points are as follows: (1) To discuss the notion of meaning-
constructing system in contrast with living system. (2) To distinguish between social systems (systems of “the
social”) and a societal system (system of “society”). (3) To distinguish between sociology as second-order
observer and the functionally-differentiated modern society as second order observer. After reviewing these
points, we conclude that, systems theory would be a very useful tool to see things sociologically if it is properly
connected to sociological theory.
16:00 - 17:30,
25
Sociocybernetic Understandings of the Human Condition
Session Organizer & Chair: Bernard SCOTT, Centre for Sociocybernetics Studies, United Kingdom
Sociocybernetic Reflections on the Human Condition
Bernard SCOTT, Center for Sociocybernetic Studies, Germany
Sociocybernetics is concerned with applying concepts from the system sciences to the social sciences. Talcott
Parsons was perhaps the first well-known social theorist who incorporated concepts from cybernetics and
systems theory in his work. These concepts remained central in his thinking up to the time of his final meditations
on ‘the human condition’. By this term, I believe Parsons meant a general and profound concern with
understanding what it is to be human. In this paper, I reflect on what concepts taken from sociocybernetics can
contribute to our understanding of the human condition in the context of the current and emerging global world,
with its major issues of ecological crisis, conflict and its consequences, global economic instability and insecurity,
and exploitation and inequality. In contemporary sociology, Parsons is but one example out of many theorists
who have used concepts from sociocybernetics in their work. Others include Niklas Luhmann, Walter Buckley,
Gordon Pask, Felix Geyer and Bernd Hornung. In answering the question what can sociocybernetics tell us about
the human condition, I draw from several of these sources. In particular, I take from Talcott Parsons the analytic
concepts of biological, psychological, cultural and social systems and from Gordon Pask’s conversation and
interaction of actors theories the concept of evolving psychosocial unities and his analytic distinction between
the conversational cognitive systems that constitute psychosocial unities and the biological and technological
systems that embody them.
On (Socio-) Semio- Cybernetics of Life
Helmut K. LOECKENHOFF, -, Germany
The evolution point of view may distinguish two kinds of information. Very roughly, thermodynamic information
lies at the base of any matter, any existent unit. Created by and derived from energy rich molecules (free energy)
thermodynamic information constitutes the energetic funds of any life in the scaffolds of local order. Catalysing
their own synthesis, autocatalytic systems indicate the origin of cybernetic information. Cybernetic information
fosters self-referent and ever more complex open systems developing into autopoietic systems. On the
(physical) base of thermodynamics and on statistical mechanics, cybernetic information leads and drives the
evolution of life from simple coded molecules to higher consciousness and mental artefacts. (J.S. Avery 2012)
Cybernetic information generates transfers and evolves meaning: what a situation, potential, an action, a
decision within action and option space may mean for survival, procreation and development of the actual
system. In essence, any cybernetic information implies semio-cybernetics, syntax and semiosis. In a generalized
sense, cybernetic information and in particular socio-cybernetics rest on semio-cybernetics, the cybernetics of
meaning.
Approaches to understand evolution corroborate. For example, a set of transdisciplinary models will begin with
the potentiality field governed by principles. The rules of physic, statistics and free energy let spontaneously
‘materialize’ matter. Mutual relations and interaction foster systems and system dynamics. System dynamics
and evolution driven by complexity dynamics closely intertwine and mutually enhance with semiosis dynamics.
With growing complexity of the social system, semio-cybernetics increasingly determine socio-cybernetics by
the impact and the evolvement of meaning.
26
The attempt presupposes fundamental stances to be aligned. It opens approaches deeper to understand socio-
cybernetics in theory, modelling and actual practice. Both need to be explored, confirmed and differentiated.
Social Subjects, Social Objects and Their Mutual Bootstrapping: A Constructivist View on the
Morphogenesis of Human Societies
Pablo NAVARRO, University of Valencia, Spain
Human societies emerge and develop their multifarious forms through a double process of sociogenetic
bootstrapping. This process intertwines the progressive differentiation of human social subjects and the
correlated differentiation of (constructed) social objects. It is a process of mutual boostrapping: human subjects
differentiate by means of their dealings with other subjects; but these dealings are meditated through social
objects. And social objects are socially constructed in the process of interaction between subjects. The
sociogenesis of the individual subject may be viewed as a process of progressive differentiation between ego
and (the representation within and by ego's mind of) other subjects. Initially, the child is an undifferentiated
subject (there is no difference, within its mind, between ego and alter). Through a process of subjective
boostrapping, the child starts to distinguish between itself and other subjects. This process may be conceived as
a process of agential symmetry breaking. Agential symmetries are broken reflectively (through the production
of different, contrasting images of ego and alter) and they are recomposed transactionally (by means of a trans-
action between ego and alter). The sociogenesis of social objects is parallel to that of social subjects. Initially,
the child lives in an undifferentiated world. Progressively, this undiffentiated reality starts to break into distinct
(physical) objects endowed with peculiar properties. A similar process drives the emergence of social objects. In
this case, those objects are defined not by means of physical interaction, but by means of social interactions
(which involve ego, but alteres as well). The differentiation of the social subject amounts to the constitution of
internal, imaginary societies that guide the interactin of the social individual. On the other hand, the
differentiation of social objects amounts to the constitution of internal “social world views” that are in gear with
the “individual society” of each social agent.
The Technological and the Human in Contemporary Society: Artifacts, Devices and
Representations
Jorge CARDIEL, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico
My research project is located at the convergence of Social Studies of Technology, Anthropology and Social
Systems Theory, mainly focused at emerging and potential relations of humans and technological artifacts
through the organizing processes of social formations. Relying on Luhmann’s distinction between social structure
and semantics, on the medium/form distinction, and on the concept of structural coupling, the questions guiding
this paper are: ¿How social structures that couple the human and the technological are formed? ¿How a device
emerges, which is both social form and material support? ¿How does contemporary society includes and
excludes the technological in its representations of the human? ¿Which social movements appear, searching to
uncouple or to couple in alternative ways the human and the technological?
In this study I observe how some communications of contemporary society react to an increasing
interdependence between humans and technology and reflect on how technological proliferation modifies the
human condition. To achieve my aims, I analyze certain outcomes creating public opinion (newspapers, radio,
television and social media), artworks, literature, and technological metaphors and metonymies in
contemporary philosophical thought.
27
By thinking the human as a bio-psycho-social event from a social systems theory approach, my aim is to observe
not only the structural couplings between psychical (consciousness) and social systems (communication), but
also how biological (corporality) and technological systems (devices, artifacts) are implicated in the formation of
social structures of interaction. This means complementing Luhmann’s theory, like Jorge Galindo proposes, by
recognizing an embodied social form (as in Bourdieu’s notion of habitus) and the presence of social forms
surrounding 'non-human' technological artifacts (as in Latour’s actor–network theory).
Between Competencies and Bildung in the Digital Medium Environment
Jesper TÆKKE, Aarhus University, Denmark and Michael PAULSEN, Aalborg University, Denmark
We are living in a media revolution, in a period where new social structures arise in the communicative space of
digital media. This means that psychic systems must try to adapt to a changing social world within all social
arenas like economy, work-life, love relations and last but not least education. What happens is that the
information– and interaction-situations change so almost any information becomes only few clicks away and
everybody in the world can message you where ever you are. The problem is not that the students now must
face a new digitalized school, but that students meet a school system that have not found it’s own feeds yet.
Especially two reactions to this unclear situation can be identified; one that tries to work against the new media
because one cannot find suitable education methods, or have ideological opposition to the new social relations
enabled by digital media. The other reaction comes from industrial and economic logics influencing governments
and management of educational institutions to improve media literacy focusing on digital competencies. The
latter reaction we find most constructive because looking at the history of media evolution the new media are
here to stay and the social will evolve within their possibility space. But we also find the scope of just looking at
competencies much too narrow. Therefor this paper tries to create a concept of Digital Bildung drawing on Klafki
and Biesta who both in their theories points at the important aspect of making students able to think critically
and become citizens taking social responsibility gaining not only technically competencies. Thereto we apply
Luhmanns systems theory to integrate the concept into educational sociology and medium sociology. The paper
draws on empirical findings from the Socio Media Education experiment, a Danish action research project in
upper secondary school.
Tuesday, 12 July 2016
09:00 - 10:30,
Sociocybernetics and Complex Problems. Part I
Session Organizer: Patricia ALMAGUER-KALIXTO, UAdeC-UNAM, Mexico
Chair: Hector ZAMORANO GALLEANO, RC51, Argentina
Investigación e Interdisciplina: Reto y Estrategia En Grupo
Abril GAMBOA ESTEVES1, Maria Alejandra PONCE MORALES2, Norma Angelica MARTINEZ LOPEZ2,
Maria Del Carmen TENORIO CONTRERAS2, Alejandro GEORGE CRUZ2 and Carmen Wendy
28
CASANOVA REYES2, (1)Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla, Mexico, (2)Benemérita
Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Mexico
Los grupos y cuerpos académicos existentes en la Facultad de Ciencias de la Comunicación de la BUAP, caminan
bajo los esquemas tradicionales para desarrollar investigación; por ello un grupo de Profesores-Investigadores
de Tiempo Completo conformamos un Grupo de Investigación denominado “Comunicación y Cibercultur@”, con
el propósito de explorar nuevas formas de generar conocimiento, integrando distintos enfoques disciplinarios
desde la perspectiva de la Cibercultur@, los Sistemas Complejos y la Sociocibernética.
Como Grupo de Investigación, nuestra estrategia para incorporar la Investigación Interdisciplinaria a nuestros
ámbitos de investigación y docencia, se expresa a partir de la Cibercultur@ como una actitud reflexiva, colectiva
y de acciones coordinadas para incidir en nuestra forma de percibir y relacionarnos con la información, la
comunicación y el conocimiento; como valor de desarrollo a partir de la investigación interdisciplinaria que
contribuya a la autodeterminación de los docentes y estudiantes y, finalmente, como objeto de estudio, referido
al vector tecnológico, estrategia integral que reconocemos como sistémica y compleja. (Almaguer, P.;
Amozurrutia, J.; González, L.; Maass, M.; Meza, M.; 2012 44-51)
Acorde a lo anterior, realizamos una serie de acciones como Grupo de Investigación y como docentes a nivel
licenciatura. Como Grupo de Investigación y como docentes, pretendemos contribuir a responder uno de los
cuestionamientos planteados por parte del RC51 Sociocybernetics de la ISA: ¿Por qué la investigación
interdisciplinaria podría ser una estrategia docente para ayudar a formar a nuestros estudiantes de manera
distinta?, mediante los resultados preliminares de un estudio, a partir de técnicas de investigación distributivas
(sondeo/encuesta) y estructurales (grupo de discusión) (Ibáñez, J., 1986; 1988) que busca conocer el impacto
que han tenido nuestras acciones como grupo de investigación, entre los estudiantes de licenciatura para
motivarlos a generar proyectos de investigación desde un abordaje complejo.
El Trabajo Interdisciplinario Como Experiencia Formativa En Estudiantes De Posgrado: El
Patrimonio Cultural Hña Hñu En El Estado De Guanajuato, México.
Jaime GONZALEZ CHAVEZ and Efrain DELGADO RIVERA, Universidad De La Salle, Mexico
El presente estudio muestra la estrategia de trabajo interdisciplinario y de aprendizaje entre expertos y
estudiantes de posgrado, dentro y fuera del aula en la Universidad De La Salle, Bajío.
El equipo de trabajo, parte de la observación de un sistema social que se ubica interdefinido por distintos
aspectos que le confieren una complejidad relativa. Desde esta perspectiva, es importante el acercamiento
interdisciplinario que, de manera dialógica, permita construir preguntas prácticas pertinentes para ser resueltas
desde las diferentes posiciones disciplinarias.
El problema práctico a resolver fue diagnosticar la factibilidad de un proyecto carretero en la zona indígena
otomí de San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, desde el punto de vista histórico, arqueológico, antropológico,
ambiental y sociocultural. Se trabajó dentro del aula con los estudiantes y fuera de ella, mediante el
acercamiento a expertos de diferentes instituciones y disciplinas en el trabajo de campo; y en conjunto, la
generación de una publicación monográfica en formato de libro y productos audiovisuales relacionados con
dicha experiencia. Las preguntas emanan del objeto y son planteadas desde los diferentes niveles de
organización sistémica que integran factores ambientales, culturales, y sociales. Por tal motivo, se optó por
construir un equipo conformado por varios especialistas de diferentes áreas de enfoque: Arqueología,
Antropología Social, Comunicación, Sociología, Historia, Metodología, Arquitectura e Ingeniería Civil.
La Enseñanza De La Comunicación En El Trabajo Social: Claves De Una Didáctica Interdisciplinar
29
Juan David GOMEZ QUINTERO, University of Zaragoza. Psicology and Sociology., Spain and Jesus
CARRERAS AGUERRI, University of Zaragoza, Spain
El estudio de la comunicación ha tenido y tiene múltiples perspectivas, muchas veces dependientes de los
enfoques otorgados por los campos científicos. De hecho, es uno de los campos en los que, a pesar de su corta
historia, destaca por su “pluralismo teórico y metodológico” (Roiz & Muñoz Carrión 1986, 197) y su enorme
interés interdisciplinar (Mattelart, 1997). Este pluralismo teórico es, sin ninguna duda, una de las mayores
dificultades para definir los límites teóricos y metodológicos de la enseñanza de la comunicación en el Trabajo
Social. Galindo Cáceres (2007) observa cuatro dimensiones presentes en el estudio de la configuración y
trayectoria de los sistemas de comunicación: unas dimensiones básicas centradas en la difusión, y otras en la
interacción. Ambas constituyen las dimensiones de primer orden del proyecto general. Sobre ellas se configuran
otras dos dimensiones, en un segundo orden, que son la expresión y la estructuración. La connotación de
comunicación interpersonal nos acerca al ámbito de acción del Trabajo Social. La comunicación intrapersonal
(siguiendo a Gardner, 1995 y a Salinas, 2012), corresponde al campo de la psicología, el psicoanálisis o la filosofía,
aunque será importante considerarlo porque entra en relación con el sistema de comunicación interpersonal, al
menos si hacemos caso a los axiomas de la comunicación humana (Watzlawick, Helmick, & Jackson, 1985), a la
noción de auto-interacción (Blumer 1981) y de la inteligencia emocional (Gardner 1995). En la comunicación
interpersonal podemos diferenciar la interpersonal diádica y grupal; la diádica es relativa a relaciones persona a
persona estrictamente y la grupal corresponde a las relaciones al interior de un grupo o entre integrantes de
grupos diversos. El objetivo de la comunicación es exponer las reflexiones sistematizadas por docentes
universitarios y las claves utilizadas en el aula para la ensañanza de la comunicación desde un enfoque
interdisciplinar.
Investigación Interdisciplinaria En Conocimiento y Gestión Ambiental: Una Reflexión Desde La
Sociocibernética Sobre Una Experiencia Formativa..
Alan ALBERT1, Patricia ALMAGUER-KALIXTO2,3, Michiko AMEMIYA-RAMIREZ4, Juan Jaime ANAYA4,
Luis Miguel AREVALO4, Fernando CARRILLO4, Carla Patricia GALAN-GUEVARA5, Claudia LUNA4, Ana
Yesica MARTINEZ4, Lilia TERAN4 and Monica SUAREZ6: (1)DCHDI -UADEC/UNAM, USA, (2)UAdeC-UNAM,
Mexico, (3)Interdisciplinary Institute on Human Ecology and Sustainability (INTERHES), Mexico, (4)DCHDI, UAdeC-UNAM,
Mexico, (5)Universidad Auntónoma de México, Mexico, (6)DCHDI, UAdeC-UNAM, Colombia
El proceso de construcción de conocimiento es un proceso complejo, más aún si se plantea intencionalmente
hacerlo de forma colectiva e interdisciplinaria, como se hace en el marco del Doctorado en Ciencias y
Humanidades para el Desarrollo Interdisciplinario (DCHDI). Esta presentación aborda una experiencia empírica
de construcción de conocimiento colectivo en el contexto del DCHDI y, en concreto, del grupo de investigación
sobre “Conocimiento y Gestión Ambiental”.
Para abordar objetos de estudio como sistemas sociales complejos, el grupo de investigación desarrolla un
proceso formativo en investigación interdisciplinaria del cual destacamos tres niveles de actividad cognoscitiva:
1) INTRA: hacia el interior, es decir, a nivel de individuos, enfrentados a teorías, conceptos y metodologías que
se ven contrastadas y reflexionadas a partir de la relación con los otros miembros del grupo; 2) INTER: con el
grupo, definiendo complejos cognitivos correspondientes a los objetos de estudio individuales pero
interdefinidos, y que responden a una construcción interdisciplinaria; y 3) TRANS: contrastando conocimientos
y procesos de construcción de conocimiento con otros grupos de investigación al interior y exterior del
doctorado.
Entre los principales resultados de dicho proceso, destacamos la construcción de una comunidad de
conocimiento en la que compartimos e integramos la perspectiva conceptual de la Epistemología Genética y la
sociocibernética y los sistemas complejos, como base conceptual, la investigación interdisciplinaria y la
Cibercultur@, como base metodológica común y la ecología política y los debates de la relación naturaleza-
sociedad para construir nuevas propuestas en el campo del “Conocimiento y Gestión Ambiental”. Este complejo
teórico-metodológico articula cada uno de los proyectos de investigación y la relación entre ellos. Orientados
30
por la sociocibernética, enfatizamos el camino hacia la generación de un marco epistémico, un lenguaje y un
metalenguaje comunes, a partir de las reflexiones de segundo orden y la construcción de un sistema de
información colectivo.
Relatos Digitales Personales Como Estrategia De Investigación Interdisciplinaria De Sociedades
En Conflicto
Gloria LONDOÑO, Profesional Autonoma, Colombia
El contar historias personales es un mecanismo humano esencial de relación social, de autorrepresentación, de
identidad y de comprensión de lo que sucede en el entorno. Las tecnologías de información y comunicación, con
Internet y los relatos digitales amateur y multimediales, han dinamizado las formas y el alcance de la expresión
individual, y ello ha influido en las maneras de percibir y entender la propia realidad y la de los grupos sociales
en los que se participa.
Con el objetivo de usar los relatos digitales personales como una estrategia de doble vía, educativa y periodística,
se realizó en Bojayá (Chocó, Colombia), una experiencia de investigación-acción interdisciplinaria, con personas
que han vivido de forma directa el conflicto armado colombiano, en la que narraron apartes de sus vidas, antes,
durante y después de hechos violentos. Posteriormente, sus relatos fueron sometidos, por el equipo
periodístico, a un proceso de edición audiovisual para darlos a conocer en Internet, y por otro, a uno de análisis
cualitativo para identificar en ellos las opiniones e imaginarios sobre las causas del conflicto armado, sus
consecuencias, los factores que lo han incrementado y las propuestas de solución. Esto no solo sirvió para
interpretar la realidad del conflicto con quienes lo han vivido de forma cercana, sino también para repensar la
propuesta metodológica para trabajar este tipo de relatos con finalidades educativas, en contextos informales
y de pobreza.
31
10:45 - 12:15,
Sociocybernetics and Complex Problems. Part II
Session Organizer: Juan David GOMEZ QUINTERO, University of Zaragoza. Psicology and Sociology,
Spain
Chair: Fernando GONZALEZ MIGUEL, THEMOLINO PROYECTOS, Spain
User, Community and Communication
Wei-Hsin HSIAO, Universität Witten/Herdecke, Germany
The concept of the user and the community has renewed its definition after the internet usage has seen
tremendous growth. Comparing with the machine, the computers and their connections (internet or network)
are entirely demanding on the continuous inputs of users. The concept of medium and communication offers us
to observe how people are recognized as users and the relation of the users and the internet. The medium
distinguishes user who is included and excluded. By contrast, the medium provides concrete forms, which enable
users be recognized.
In this abstract, we presented an empirical study of the second-order approach, which clarifies neither users or
internet are dominated. Flickr is a website and so-called a social networking platform. The users are gathered,
observed and organized by Flickr. People were not familiar with each other, nor share photos until becoming
the users on Flickr. The communication has started while they registered as an user or not by understanding and
accepting the instructions of Flickr. Since Flickr assumes that the communication to people will be realized,
people are divided into users and potential users who will possibly be included later. Up to now Flickr provides
several forms which enable these users organized as communities. Under different forms of tags, keywords,
topics, locations and photos we can find users tightly gathered as communities, and can easily be separated and
reformed into new community. In summary, the conventional sociological analysis of users or virtual
communities does not take the influence of the computer and internet into account. Nevertheless through
communication, the users and communities are with dynamic in Flickr and the forms provided Flickr enable users
transforming from individual state into communities.
The Problem of Legitimacy in Japan's Political System: A Luhmannian Perspective
Andrew MITCHELL, Kumamoto University, Japan
Within Japanese politics the ruling LDP administration, led by Abe Shinzo, has been at the forefront of numerous
controversial policy decisions regarding the military and nuclear power. Public dissatisfaction with such policies
has led to the Abe administration’s approval rating slipping to 38.5% by September 2015, its lowest level since
Abe took office in December 2012. Yet the support rating of the largest opposition party, the DPJ, is only 4.9%,
making them a statistical factor rather than a potential electoral challenger. This is not an anomalous result and
reflects the underlying reality of LDP political domination, with the party having held power almost unbroken
since 1955. This lack of viable political plurality in the face of sliding ratings for the Abe administration raises the
32
issue of political legitimacy. Japan’s lack of an effective political opposition through which public opinion can
enter into the political system also raises the question as to whether Japan’s political system can truly be
considered democratic.
In this paper I wish to take a Luhmannian reading of the Japanese political system, focusing on Luhmann’s
assertion that the binary coding of the political system is government/opposition and that political legitimacy is
created through this coding. Through an analysis of Luhmann’s political theory I shall track the development of
Japan’s democratic development, focusing on its initial emergence during the Meiji restoration and its reform
during the SCAP administration led by the Americans post-war. By then focusing on the political realities of
modern Japan, I shall critique Japan’s political system from a Luhmannian perspective. I shall then consider
whether such a reading offers any novel approaches for political development.
Complexity and the Viable System Model: A Proposal
Roberto MANCILLA, (RC51 Member), Mexico; Freelance, USA
Stafford Beer intended with the viable system model to create a model of human organization that could be
applied to any known institution. His intuition was that social systems tended towards the maintaining of their
identity and organization in light of a changing environment; that is, their viability. This model is comprised of
five interacting subsystems; systems 1, 2 and 3 are concerned with the day to day operations- the “here and
now”- while systems 3, 4 and 5 are in charge of policy- the “there and then” that helps to secure viability on a
long term.
Two striking features of this model are the fact that it can be used on both private and public organizations and
the fact that it is recursive, as viable systems contain others of its kind that can be modeled using an isomorphic
description, i.e. another viable system model. However, there are shortcomings on the original model, such as
the lack of elaboration of what constitutes an environment; also, the perception of variety seems too unified, it
does not take into account subjectivity from the subsystems.
Many of these aspects were corrected by Espejo, a close collaborator of Beer; he adds complexity management
to the model and improves it a great deal, however, he changes the core model and makes it more rigid. For
this paper I will review existing literature on the model and I will retake Beer’s original model and adding some
of Espejo’s improvements, I will further adapt VSM by adding: a) network theory and dominant coalition theory
to both the relevant environment and the composition of the VSM, b) subjectivity in the perception of variety
and c)organizational states in the perception of variety (homeostasis as low variety, dynamic equilibrium as
changing varietal states and hypercomplexity as untenable variety).
The Computational Psychology of Digital Shop Assistants
Marzia ANTENORE1, Alessandro PANCONESI2, Giovanna LEONE1 and Erisa TEROLLI2,
(1)Communication and Social Research Department, Sapienza - University of Rome, Italy,
(2)Computer Science Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
This proposal describes a project lying at the intersection of Computer Science and Social Sciences whose goal
is to state and investigate some basic questions concerning recommender systems (henceforth RS’s).
The advent of the internet has changed cultural markets in profound ways. The global volume of online
purchases of music, books, movies, video games and other forms of cultural products has reached the 1.5 trillion
dollars mark in 2014, and the trend is increasing. Today, an estimated 1.22 billions people acquire cultural
products through the internet. RS’s are a key component of these online markets. In the old days, a regular
customer of, say, a music shop, could get the advice of a knowledgeable shop assistant with whom s/he had
developed a relationship of trust. Based on the knowledge of the customer’s taste and of the music world, the
assistant could offer insightful suggestions to the customer, providing useful advice. Roughly speaking, a RS is a
33
digital, algorithmic analogue of the shop assistant that, on the basis of the past online behaviour of the current
customer and of the entire collective behaviour of online visitors, helps navigate the huge catalogue of online
choices by providing suggestions in a purely algorithmic fashion. Thus, a visitor to the YouTube home site will
be presented with a list of videos that, hopefully, will match his/her interests, and a person looking for a book
on Amazon will likewise see a list of other interesting books to buy.
In spite of the fact that RS’s are fundamental actors of online cultural markets, their power to shape and
influence is still largely unknown. The goal of this proposal is to investigate the extent to which a cultural market
can be affected by RS’s and the interplay between computational and psychological mechanisms underlying
them.
Citizenfour: Internet Publics and the Imaginary of Privacy. a Content Analysis of Twitter
Commentaries Around the 2015 Oscar Winning Documentary
Giovanni BOCCIA ARTIERI1, Fabio GIGLIETTO2 and Laura GEMINI1, (1)University of Urbino Carlo Bo,
Italy, (2)Communication Studies & Humanities, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
The paper analyze the Twitter conversations produced by networked publics during the TV premier of Laura
Poitras’s documentary Citizenfour (2014). The documentary deals with the case of the computer analyst Edward
Snowden who, in 2013, leaked classified documents he had obtained from the National Security Agency detailing
the extent of government surveillance of U.S. citizens. It was aired by HBO in USA (East and Pacific time) and
Channel 4 in UK respectively the 23th and 25th of February 2015. We focused on the type of representations
produced around the relationship between privacy and the Internet, ie the imaginary related to privacy
conveyed by Snowden case. The paper thus attempt to answer the following RQ: what are the privacy’s imagery
around Snowden case emerging from double screen audience of documentary Citizenfour? Based on a complete
corpus of 129,000 tweets containing either the hashtags #citizenfour or Snowden or Poitras and created
between 22th and 26th of February 2015, the study identified peaks in the Twitter activity (through a ‘breakout
detection’) as well as what accounted for those peaks. Finally, a sample of tweets was content analyzed - using
a codeset derived by DeCew*. The analysis identified the most discussed excerpts of the documentary and the
way the online discussion articulated around informational, accessibility and expressive privacy during this
excerpts. At the same time, we also observed significant differences between the imaginary of privacy created
around the documentary by US and UK audience.
* DeCew, J. (1997). In Pursuit of privacy: Law, ethics, and the rise of technology. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
14:15 - 15:45,
Data and Society
Session Organizer: Fabio GIGLIETTO, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Italy
Chair: Czeslaw MESJASZ, Cracow University of Economics, Poland
34
The Shadow of Big Data: Data-Citizenship and Exclusion
Luca ROSSI, Christina NEUMAYER and Morten HJELHOLT, IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Big data are understood as being able to provide insights on human behaviour at an individual as well as at an
aggregated societal level (Manyka et al. 2011). These insights are expected to be more detailed and precise than
anything before thanks to the large volume of digital data and to the unobstrusive nature of the data collection
(Fishleigh 2014). Within this perspective, these two dimensions (volume and unobstrusiveness) define
contemporary big data techniques as a socio-technical offering to society, a live representation of itself. More
precisely, within a system theory approach (Luhmann 1982, 2010), large-scale big data work as a boundary-
drawing operation where the difference between the system and its environment is reproduced. Here the result
of system observation is defined by what is made visible as (big) data.
Within this process "data-citizenship" emerges. Data-citizenship assumes that citizens will be visible to the state
through the data they produce. On a general level data-citizenship shifts citizenship from an intrinsic status of a
group of people to a status achieved through action. This approach assumes equal possibilities of action for
every citizen, even if research has shown that an unequal distribution of participatory potential is unavoidable
(boyd & Crawford 2012).
Data-citizenships echoes what was envisioned by Luhmann (2010): When society is defined through the
metacode of inclusion/exclusion, persons (of which citizens are equivalent within the legal system) are
emancipated depending on their ability of being data producers.
To empirically explore this topic, the presentation will present preliminary results of an ongoing research about
the digitalisation process in the Danish public sector. Through the analysis of specific examples we will show
how those citizens who do not leave (digital) traces not only appear at the margins or entirely disappear
(Bourdieu 1999) in the shadow of big-data.
The Everyday Data Collectors: Privacy, Surveillance and Cloud-Based Smartphone Applications
Daniel KERPEN and Michael EGGERT, Institute of Sociology at RWTH Aachen University, Germany
The term “Cloud Computing” (CC) describes models in which users access networks, servers, platforms, and
applications as ubiquitous, shared pools of scalable, rapidly provisioned computing resources. Undoubtedly, CC
is important for allocating and distributing IT resources: Concepts like Internet of Things or Big Data require
dynamic and efficient management of storage, transfer capacities, and computational power.
Furthermore, a significant share of actual everyday communication is realized via cloud technologies; especially
when considering the steady rise of global smartphone usage: Smartphones are extraordinarily dependent on
CC infrastructures; finally, such infrstructures provide devices and installed applications with full functionality.
Hence, with growing interconnectedness of devices and apps/services, different kinds of data are increasingly
related to one another, frequently combining big-data-assets with individual data.
Consequently, CC must be considered a relevant technological phenomenon, deeply interwoven with a broad
range of social and societal structures and processes: E.g., although not explicitly designed as surveillance
technologies, smartphones bear the potential to (and do!) form an extremely dense surveillance network which
extends into the most private realm. But the system of ubiquitous visibility emerges, quasi, as a by-product—
often borne by seeking gains in quality of life or convenience through the use of such devices.
We explore this issue of privacy and surveillance against the background of cloud-connected smart portable
devices drawing on first insights of a recently established interdisciplinary research project on social acceptance
of cloud-based smartphone applications. We gain insights into visions and fears that individuals harbor
concerning smart artifacts and the socio-technical network they constitute, as well as their expectations about
technology's impact on privacy and its influence in terms of behavioral control. The paper concludes with an
outlook on the question of trust in smart devices and some implications for their design.
35
36
Exploring the Online Practices of Self-Disclosure, Privacy Concerns and Gender Differences in the
Time of Facebook
Manuela FARINOSI, University of Udine, Italy and Sakari TAIPALE, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Within a relatively short time span, social media applications have intruded into all parts of life and have come
to play a crucial role in contemporary culture and society. Online and mobile applications offer people the
opportunity to participate in creating, sharing and consuming digital content and to engage in online
conversation. In this contribution, we focus our attention on the most popular relationship networks, Facebook,
and on how it reshaped the way in which individuals think about themselves and construct their identities. These
transformations have potentially profound consequences due to the blurring of traditional boundaries between
the private and the public.
Our study investigates the gendered privacy practices and concerns on Facebook by leaning on the idea of
privacy management as a form of immaterial labour. We analysed if young Facebook users are more concern
about the privacy against other users than against Facebook as a company or third-party partners, and also if
privacy concerns and practices are differentiated by gender. A structured online survey collected from university
students (aged 18-34, N=813) in Udine, Italy, is analysed. Our results show that students have just slightly more
privacy concerns against other users than against Facebook and much less against third-party partners. However,
women are consistently more concern about privacy related risk than men. We suggest that these results may
account for different perception online risks between men and women.
Public Policies on Big Data and Open Data: Ibge, a Sociocybernetical Approach
Alexandre VELOSO, Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain
La manera como se produce y difunde la información en la sociedad actual es muy distinta de como era hace
pocos años. Las tecnologías disponibles permiten que sea posible producir y almacenar un inmenso volumen y
variedad de datos en una velocidad y escala cada vez más grandes. El desarrollo de la sociedad en nuestros días
no puede pensarse sin tener en cuenta la influencia de la cibernética. Los gobiernos, organizaciones y ciudadanos
cuentan con plataformas informáticas que les permiten interactuar en escala global, haciendo que todos sean,
a la vez, productores activos y receptores masivos de información.
El reto es generar información de valor a partir de esa enorme cantidad de datos. Los institutos oficiales de
producción de estadísticas son instituciones que suelen tener históricamente un papel relevante en la
producción y diseminación de gran volumen de datos. Así, esa expertise institucional les daría, en teoría, una
ventaja competitiva en el nuevo mundo de la información global.
En este trabajo, desde un enfoque sociocibernético, se discute como son esos procesos y si eso de hecho ocurre,
proponiendo un estudio de caso. El IBGE - Instituto Brasileño de Geografía y Estadística - busca estrategias para
adaptarse al nuevo escenario y emprende acciones para su inserción positiva en la actual realidad. El análisis de
las acciones de IBGE pretende contribuir a la discusión sobre el rol y el desempeño de las instituciones públicas
en este nuevo y cambiante sistema social. Para ello este trabajo se divide en cinco apartados, incluyendo
introducción y conclusiones.
Towards a Sociological Perspective on Data Society
Bianca PRIETL, Department of Sociology, Germany
Datafication by now has invaded every sphere of the social and, hence, poses a challenge to sociological
reasoning. Media studies have pointed out the implications of digital forms of communication as well as
knowledge production, consumption, and distribution mostly with respect to social media. Building on these
insights we argue for a more radical approach that understands an increasing number of societal processes as
37
being data driven and, thus, analyzes our current society as a ‘data society’. We will argue for such a perspective
by making a twofold argument:
(1) We point at the imperative necessity for sociology to develop theoretical perspectives and practical methods
to meet the uprising challenges posed by datafication and digitalization. Although big data is currently paid
considerable attention, it is mostly treated as a rather isolated phenomenon with discussions being limited to
narrow issues such as privacy. However, data based social processes not only have become ubiquitous but their
(re)production, utilization, and relevance have reached novel qualities which render society as a whole deeply
changed. Therefore, sociological reasoning needs to confront itself with this data society.
(2) In order to demonstrate this, we will reconstruct processes of algorithmization and their relevance to society
at large. Drawing, among others, on system theoretical approaches, we develop an analytical framework to
understand the new forms of data communication and their data traces, identified by media studies, as
manifesting interpenetrating qualities to all kinds of social systems. Eventually, this focus on data related
communication enables us to formulate a research agenda that meets current societal developments.
16:00 - 17:30,
Sociocybernetics, Transitional Justice and Other Issues
Session Organizers: Michael PAETAU, Center for Sociocybernetics Studies, Germany and Pedro
ESCRICHE, Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain
Chair: Michael PAETAU, Centre of Sociocybernetics, Germany
Violence As System: A Case Study of Migrant Disappearances in Oaxaca
Wendy LOPEZ JUAREZ, Centro de Estudios Interdisciplinarios en Religión y Cultura (CEIRC) Oaxaca.,
Mexico and Chaime MARCUELLO-SERVOS, Psicología y Sociología, Universidad de Zaragoza,
ZARAGOZA, Spain
Violence is a complex phenomenon. It affects individuals, groups and institutions on three levels: interpersonal,
intergroup, and institutional. Violence is not only a behaviour involving physical force. It can be cause and
consequence; sometimes it is a requirement or a way of understanding, for instance, markets and states. Violent
acts are interpreted according to social meanings. The performance analysis of violence phenomena has
different theoretical underpinnings within sociological theory. There is a wide range of literature and authors.
Here we study a violent case: the disappearance of “undocumented” Oaxacan migrants and the effects on their
families, from a sociocybernetical approach.
A missing person is a tragedy for any family. Different types of disappearance happen in dictatorships,
authoritarian states and also in violent societies and failed states, like Mexico. We take into account the effects
that it has on the families of the disappeared, their communities and civil society. The mistrust in state
institutions and the consequences of a failed state system require system theory concepts to explain them. We
propose a second order observation process to consider the complexity of these enforced disappearances and
to describe the functions, elements and structures operating in the migrant system. We present a case study in
Oaxaca to illustrate the problem. We use participant observation and interviews, from a process of support to
families of missing migrants.
38
The paper is divided into five sections including introduction and conclusions. Firstly, it examines the
phenomenon of disappearances from a general perspective. Secondly, migration in Mexico and the scene of the
disappearances. Thirdly, through the case study, the effects that these disappearances have on families are
displayed. The result is a typology of family archetypes and a theoretical framework to explain violence as a
system.
Thinking a Different Way to Govern: The Challenge of Political Decisions in a Complex Society
Jorge GARCÍA CASTRO, Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico
Interest in the study of political decisions and their impact on the legitimacy of the political system lies in the
main features that rise when observing a society like present-day Mexico, where there exists an unusual breach
of rules, great inequality and violated civil rights; all of which is enough to doubt the true possibilities of inference
and decision-making that the citizen really possesses in democratic social life.
Political decisions in the Mexican context are often aimed under the power of elite groups isolated from the rest
of population; thereby, the lack of representativeness in many decisions is part of the public landscape in which
social discontent intensifies. However, in political decisions, the referents produced by protest movements do
not represent all of the options that can be observed and analyzed in the political environment. It is precisely on
this point that there is a possibility to observe and problematize the economic and corporative function of the
state's decisions vis a vis the demands shown in the social discussions as part of a more detailed hetero-
observation.
In the framework of a representative democracy, political decisions should be based on social referents that
guide to the formulation of satisfactory answers to the whole of society and not just for the powerful few.
Therefore starting from the rupture between public interest and political decisions in Mexico, it is important to
think of a strategy for linking public demands, economic arrangements, and political decisions in this country as
a theoretical and practical challenge of a complex society.
Science, Complexity and Emotions: Proposals for a New Urban Sociology
Fernando GONZALEZ MIGUEL, THEMOLINO PROYECTOS, Spain
The bursting of Spanish housing bubble introduced a practical problem in public policies, in people lives and in
technical and scientific approach to town planning. This particular case calls to a paradigm shift. Several factors
have triggered this need: the economic crisis, the establishment of a new "meta-value", sustainability, a growing
demand for greater citizen participation and control of intervention activity in the city, as well as a revision of
complexity and emotions. Recent political arguments are supported in technical and scientific considerations
that reject the emotions and usually the complexity of the issue. Power, science and responsibility are needed
to go through the objectivism of the arguments that dropped into the economic and social crisis.
This paper proposes a theoretical approach to this political issue. We have to take into account all urban aspects,
not only physical reality and regulations, but the citizens, the social processes, changes and problems of cities
and urban areas. This vision will provide us inputs for new planning practices and policies. However, we need to
review the theoretical perspective. The paradigm shift in urban planning needs a multidisciplinary work, the
management of a holistic, complex and systemic view of the city, not only as building and society, but also
relations, environment and economy. In these days we need working teams capable of providing global
solutions, and they are therefore crucial for leaders with vision and appropriate training to face the complexity
of the urban reality and develop unified strategies of intervention.
The demanded complex view of the city has to consider emotions and feelings of the social actors. Professional
teams and leaders involved in urban matters should develop methodology to include these key concepts in the
way through the paradigm shift.
39
The Indigenous Movement in Ecuador As an Exercise of Self-Inclusion – a Luhmannian View on
Social Movements in the Global South
Philipp ALTMANN, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Ecuador
The exclusion from one social subsystem can lead to the exclusion from other and maybe all social subsystems.
This gives a new meaning to the old dictum that the subaltern cannot speak. Actually, he (or she) cannot –
because he is excluded from most communicative systems. This is the situation of a considerably large part of
the population worldwide and especially in the Global South. This presentation argues that self-organization –
for instance as a social movement- can serve on the long run as a means for self-inclusion. The indigenous
movement in Ecuador is a good example for the possibility of self-inclusion: a vast number of people lived for
centuries almost completely excluded from economy (relegated to subsistence activities or semi-feudalism),
politics (without the right to vote and political visibility), education and so on. In the early 20th century, this very
people starts to organize in worker unions that with the time establish clandestine schools, later production and
credit cooperatives, church communities, sports clubs and finally a political party. Until the 1990s, the moment
of high visibility of the movement, it already established a wide range of structures that put the indigenous
peoples in the possibility to communicate in virtually every subsystem.
This presentation will develop another approach to the study of social movements in the Global South by
applying Luhmannian ideas. By this, an alternative to the mostly Eurocentric theories of social movements will
be developed.
Wednesday, 13 July 2016
09:00 - 10:30,
La Investigación Interdisciplinaria desde la Sociocibernética y Sistemas Sociales
Complejos
Session Organizer: Elisa Margarita MAASS, UNAM, Mexico
Chair: Lilia TERAN, DCHDI, UAdeC-UNAM, Mexico
Educación y Complejidad: Hacia Una Articulación Interdisciplinaria
Jose Antonio AMOZURRUTIA, Centro de Investigaciones Interdisciplinarias en Ciencias y
Humanidades (CEIICH). UNAM, Mexico and Leticia RODRIGUEZ AUDIRAC, Universidad
Veracruzana, Mexico
La exigencia de formas multidimensionales en el ámbito de una educación orientada a la formación integral no
solo de estudiantes, sino de maestros, coordinadores y directivos de instituciones académicas, exige de nuevas
perspectivas para la comprensión de su dinámica compleja y una mayor potenciación de su reflexividad,
orientada a toma de decisiones. Dos atributos de dichas formas son la articulación disciplinaria y la
40
transversalización de conocimientos comunes a ellas. Ambos atributos implican un entramado que puede tomar
diversas formas dependiendo de su contexto.
Estos retos los enfrentamos desde una perspectiva Sociocibernética, que además de formular una organización
inteligente de sus partes y relaciones, nos permite enfrentar los retos de una metodología orientada a la sucesiva
aproximación en la definición de un objeto de conocimiento compartida por varios especialistas.
En este trabajo sintetizamos una unidad de análisis multidimensional que nos permite formular dicha
transversalidad. En ella incluimos un componente epistemológico, uno social y uno cultural engarzados y
acoplados desde una propuesta de correspondencias e isomorfismos en el marco de la epistemología genética
piagetiana. La concepción sistémica se caracteriza por tener diversas posibilidades para adaptarse a las
necesidades articuladoras propias de la dinámica en la educación superior. Posteriormente describimos un caso
de estudio, derivado del trabajo de campo dentro de la Universidad Veracruzana en México, y más adelante
presentamos los retos y hallazgos que hemos encontrado en la conformación de un equipo de trabajo
interdisciplinario orientado a dichos fines. Concluimos sintetizando algunos productos de la investigación, en el
marco de una Cibercultur@, entendida como una forma de desarrollo integral ante problemas complejos.
Construcción Identitaria De La Vejez: El Reto De La Resignificación Desde La Infancia.
Abel RODRÍGUEZ MALDONADO, UAdeC, UNAM, Mexico
La problemática de la calidad de vida en la tercera edad es un tema que ha cobrado relevancia en los últimos
años. México atraviesa por un proceso complejo de cambios en la composición de la población, siendo este
sector cada vez más numeroso y desdeñado. La complejidad de los elementos que constituyen la realidad de los
adultos mayores, es una amalgama que requiere la mirada interdisciplinar mediante procesos de integración y
diferenciación (García, 2006), de tal manera que las aproximaciones al objeto de estudio puedan estar en
constante retroalimentación y reconstrucción cognoscitiva (García, 2000). La calidad de vida, abordada a través
de la resignificación social de la vejez, como parte de un sistema complejo e interdisciplinar, se aproxima a un
planeamiento reflexivo, histórico, social, inclusivo, identitario y cultural con implicaciones recíprocas entre los
ancianos y la sociedad durante todo el trayecto de la vida, por lo que el objeto de estudio se dirige a la
intervención en los procesos cognoscitivos y didácticos de resignificación de representaciones en los alumnos
de Educación Primaria.
El objetivo del subsistema resignificación social, es aproximarse empíricamente a las representaciones sociales
de distintas generaciones, así como articular sistemas de información, y mediante la disminución de la entropía
en el sistema (Pozo, 2014), proponer un manejo más certero de las propuestas tendientes al mejoramiento de
la calidad de vida de los ancianos, incidiendo desde la niñez.
Los resultados en la aplicación de grupos focales y entrevistas a profundidad muestran representaciones poco
deseables respecto a la vejez y un deterioro paulatino de la imagen del anciano. El modelo de calidad de vida
desde la resignificación social como sistema autogestivo y autoregulador (Bertalanffy, 1968), parte
fundamentalmente de las reflexividades múltiples de sus implicados y el fortalecimiento de la identidad a través
de la inclusión de los ancianos.
Social Impact of the Misuse of the Free Time
Blanca GONZÁLEZ MONROY1, Alejandra PEREZ1 and Melina PAREDES ACOSTA2, (1)INSTITUTO
TECNOLOGICO DE ATITALAQUIA, Mexico, (2)Instituto Tecnologico de Atitalalquia, Mexico
The increase in rates of violence and crime in the world constitute a complex social problem. In the state of
Hidalgo, as well as in many other states of Mexico, the problem is urgent. In the project "social impact of the
misuse of free time" -that responds to the demand on "the future that we want to" -, we are looking at the "free
41
time" as an indicator of time potentially associated with the violence and as a factor of social risk implicit in all
ages.
Our attention is the construction of our own measures in the framework of human development indicators. The
project analyses the main physiological, social and cultural or recreational activities, from 18 to 25 year olds in
the city of Atitalaquia, Hgo. We apply second order reflexivity and a heuristic strategy from Sociocybernetics, as
well as the construction of complex systems from the Cybercultur@.
In the first part of our presentation, we present the codification criteria and the critical conditions of the region
observed from different disciplines. In the second part, we describe the unit of analysis that will enable us to
infer the most significant indicators for that group of young people in their socio-cultural conditions, and in the
third part we present some results of the field work and the first definitions of these index of measurement
violence in Atitalaquia.
Vejez y Vivienda. Casa De Retiro Auto-Sustentable Proyecto De Investigación Interdisciplinaria
Sobre Un Problema Complejo
Elisa Margarita MAASS, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico
En el proyecto de investigación interdisciplinaria de Vejez y Envejecimiento del CEIIH-UNAM, se desarrolla este
sobre Vejez y vivienda: una Casa de Retiro ecológica y auto-sustentable y auto-regulada (Bertalanffy 1968). El
objetivo de este trabajo es contribuir a la reflexión de la problemática de la vivienda en la vejez como un
problema complejo, desde una perspectiva sistémica. Metodológicamente se trabajaron entrevistas a
profundidad, una encuesta exploratoria y un estudio de la oferta de casas para adultos mayores en la ciudad de
México. El documento está estructurado en cuatro partes. Inicio con un estudio realizado en México sobre la
realidad de vivienda de para la vejez. Sigo con los resultados de un diagnóstico sobre lo que ofrecen las casas de
retiro y los costos econòmicos. Los resultados de la investigación interdisciplinaria nos llevan a proponer el
modelo de la Casa de Retiro auto-sustentable, auto-referente, auto-gestiva, y construido como un sistema
complejo adaptivo y la auto-regulado (Buckley 1998), a partir del concepto de sustentabilidad de desarrollo
sustentable y auto-determinado planteado por Amartya Sen (2002) y por Víctor Toledo (2004). Posteriormente
se presenta el Modelo de Planeación para vivir la vejez como toda una empresa colectiva y entre amigos, la
forma ecológica y sustentable para vivir con calidad de vida (salud, bienestar fìsica, mental, emocional) en la
etapa de adultos mayores produciendo sus propio alimentos y utilizando racionalmente los recursos naturales
de la zona y sus propios recursos culturales, económicos y sociales. Finalmente se presenta la aplicación de este
modelo en LaGuancha, una casa de retiro, constituida por un grupo interdisciplinario de adultos mayores, que
desean vivir en armonía, en paz y con respeto al compartir sus próximos años y en la etapa de retiro y vejez, en
un lugar creado con su trabajo.
Cultura Metro Como Modo De Relación: Investigación Interdisciplinaria Del Liderazgo Humano
Luciano GALLON1, Richard URIBE1, Juan F. MEJIA1, Hernando URIBE1 and Jairo GUTIERREZ2,
(1)Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Colombia, (2)Empresa de Transporte Masivo del Valle de
Aburrá / Metro de Medellín, Colombia
La historia de la humanidad, en cada uno de sus trayectos, ha exigido líderes para movilizar el progreso, la
transformación y el cambio; no obstante, la formación de líderes es una práctica ética, política y estética que
exige pensar los contextos de manera situada y, sin lugar a dudas, innovar en relación con las condiciones y
contingencias que el desarrollo mismo de las sociedades va imponiendo. En el caso de la ciudad de Medellín y
su Área Metropolitana, en Colombia, en donde el concepto líder ha sido relacionado en ocasiones con la riqueza,
el dominio de otros y el crecimiento egoísta de sí mismo, es ineludible pensar una condición de líder cuyo eje y
42
cualidad sea el trabajo comunitario, la formación de sí mismo y de otros, y la capacidad para afrontar la
transformación y el conflicto como posibilidades y oportunidades para formar y aprender a vivir mejor juntos.
Es en este panorama que el la Empresa de Transporte Masivo del Valle de Aburrá - Metro de Medellín y la
Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana diseñaron y llevaron a cabo la Diplomatura Formación de líderes Metro:
cultura como modo de relación, como una práctica de formación humana que dinamiza y actualiza la Cultura
Metro y permite que, cada vez más, los ciudadanos vivan una experiencia amable con su ciudad, puesto que se
construyen con ella y trabajan activamente por su cuidado, su sostenibilidad y su futuro. De esta manera se
realiza investigación interdisciplinaria del liderazgo humano, en una lógica comprensiva que entiende la cultura
como modo de relación que construye relaciones entre personas que se lideran a sí mismas y a otros para la
construcción de la paz, la calidad de vida y el bienestar para lograr una ciudad amable.
10:45 - 12:15,
Science Its Power, Responsibility and the Limits of Human Knowing
Session Organizer: Arne KJELLMAN, Stockholm University, Sweden
Chair: Chaime MARCUELLO-SERVOS, Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain
The Limits of Knowing and Re-Emergence of Human Feeling in Science.
Arne KJELLMAN, Stockholm University, Computer and Systems Sciences, Sweden, Sweden
This presentation, which builds on the “Subject-Oriented Approach to Knowing” (SOA), discusses the limits of
human experience and knowing. It shows that the phenomenon of life cannot be understood unless the concept
of human feeling is re-introduced into science at a very fundamental level. The claim is that in the very moment
a subject/thinker/knower introduces “matter”, or the like, as something real or distinct from the subject, she
has introduced a crippling matter/mind distinction from which human knowing can never recover.
With the SOA, the dichotomies of truth or falsity, right or wrong, fact or value disappear, and the role of science
as a pursuit of ‘truth’ is undermined. Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle applies to all forms of decision as such
also truth assessments, which are now relativized along the lines of Protagoras’ ancient suggestion that “Man is
the measure of all things.” As such all decisions are intimately tied to his feelings by means of the SOA’s model
of human consciousness and knowing, which is in many respects close to Henry Poincaré’s 1898 proposal. This
also means that all knowledge endeavours can be grouped under the same umbrella, as the physicist Ernst Mach
once suggested, and the cleft between the social and natural sciences is removed.
The idea of a common objective reality gives way to the idea of a private universe – a ‘priverse’ – belonging to
each and every person, and laboriously constructed on the basis of purely private experience. It is to mankind,
or at least science, no longer any need to fall back on some ultimate ‘external’ power of intelligence or
omnipotence. Man is by reason fully capable of handling life without the guiding principles or laws of some all-
mighty God, and is consistently free to embrace ‘internal’ God/gods of his own personal desire.
Rolando García's Complex Systems Theory and Its Relevance to Sociocybernetics
Gaston BECERRA, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina and Jose Antonio AMOZURRUTIA,
Centro de Investigaciones Interdisciplinarias en Ciencias y Humanidades (CEIICH). UNAM, Mexico
43
Complex Systems Theory by the Argentine-Mexican physicist and epistemologist Rolando García provides a
comprehensive framework to approach complex issues or complex problems requiring an interdisciplinary
approach. In this work its theoretical framework, proposal for methodology and constructivist epistemology are
summarized and evaluated in accordance to their relevance for sociocybernetic. In our opinion, García’s proposal
not only shares core principles of sociocybernetics but also make several contributions to its major challenges:
a dialectical analysis of the interdisciplinary praxis based on differentiations and integrations and supported by
a strong reflexivity on research questions, observables and system variables; a discussion of how central the
researchers’ political viewpoint is to framing the questions-guidelines and constructing the system; making
observables and inferences explicit along with outlining the empirical complex.
Gotthard Guenther's Claim for a Cybernetics of Volition
Karl-Heinz SIMON, Center for Environmental Systems Research, University of Kassel, Kassel,
Germany
In the analysis of many real-world problems the gap between knowledge and behavior / action is recognized.
From a philosophical point of view such a gap is not a surprise because of the influential Cartesian tradition in
which mind and body, reason and will are strictly separated. Beside others, G Guenther broke with that tradition
and claims for cybernetics to adopt a crucial role in solving social and political problems (1971/1979), going hand
in hand with a closer connection of Reason and Will. He states that cognition and volition are two exactly
complementary aspects of subjectivity.
Both aspects can be interpreted as forming a feedback loop: environment – (cognition) - subject - (volition) -
environment. The different interfaces are identical with a change in structural form, a structural upgrading. The
subject is urged to act in a situation which is not fully determined by the environment. What does that mean
when that situation is characterized as of a higher structural complexity? A possible answer should refer to
information processing in the subject’s part of the loop, e.g. reflections on the future of circumstances which
cannot be extracted from purely objective facts. Another crucial problem is about the differentiation of
“subjectivity” or the general subject in manifold interacting subjectivities.
Some interesting consequences of such a concept of feedback will be discussed. However, Guenther goes one
step further and tries to develop a calculus representing these interfaces that link cognition with volition. It is
centered around a principal exchangeability of form (subjectivity) and the material content of form (objectivity).
According to the change in structural form a new operator is introduced, called “proemial” relationship, which
“represents a peculiar interlocking of exchange and order”, thereby relativizing the difference between form
and matter. A first impression of how the calculus works will be presented.
The Society of the Brain: An Introduction
Fermin ARELLANO MORLAS, RC51, Spain
The development of neuroscience has advanced importantly in the last decades. It consisted in overcoming the
internal physiological brain and the nervous system, to reach a practical application in other sciences. This lead
to the appearance of new fields such as neuroeconomy, neuromarketing, neurolinguistics, and also
neurosociology.
We part from the knowledge we have reached from the way our brain functions to apply it to other sciences.
We also have to bear in mind that we do not have an accepted model of the brain itself.
44
It is for this, that we suggest what it would be another step forward in the development of neuroscience. Using
the knowledge of sociology, we will approach, using its tools and methodology, a new model of the functioning
of the human brain. We are talking about social neuroscience.
Some classical authors have defined the object of study of sociology as the search and interpretation of a social
fact or a social action. Here, we suggest that is more useful to our purposes to consider communication as a
nexus of both fields. This leads us to Luhmann´s theory of social systems. The mind/brain can be observed
through complexity perspective. It can be considered as a way of penetration that accompanies the assimilation
and accommodation inside the learning process.
In this introduction, some examples will help us in the consideration of the brain as a society. Among them, we
will point out the theory of the moral panic of Stanley Cohen and its relation with the investigations of Antonio
Damasio about emotions. We will also study the attention process and the options selection in a world of scarce
or the framework of conformity and its cognitive aspects.
The Withdrawal and Comeback of Subject from Niklas Luhmann's Perspectives
Hsiao-Mei JUAN, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan
This article will study the human existence and related issues in the modern society based on Niklas Luhmann’s
theories. It takes the problematic of subject seriously and tries to connect with the increasingly popular de-
subjectivation and reconstruction of subject in the fields of sociology as well as sociological theory. Guided by
Luhmann’s theoretical concepts, this project wishes to comb the different dimensions and levels of human
picture, clarify their relationships and point out the contribution, limitation and further perspectives of
Luhmann’s theory. It will concentrate on withdrawal and comeback of subject, namely on the switch of questions
from “What is the subject” to “How is human regarded as subject”. By so doing, it will give the human a
subjective position sociologically and explore the reasoning of human as subject, without appealing to
transcendental subject and his ability. Concretely speaking, this article will take consideration of social structure,
emotion, body and material object into the formation of subject. It will also explore the consequential issues
involved in the process of withdrawal and comeback of the subject, for example, alienation, aloneness, deficit
of meaning, disintegration and narcissism epidemic, analyzing the subjective identity and its possible risk in the
modern society. Based on the theoretical reflection, this aarticle will try to figure out a more appropriate frame
to grasp and interpret the different, controversial and paradoxical dimensions of individualization.
14:15 - 15:45,
Social Forces behind Our Backs - Searching for Points of Intervention
Special RC51 Session
Session Organizer: John RAVEN, Eye on Society, United Kingdom
Chair: Bernd HORNUNG, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Germany
Room: Hoersaal 15, Juridicum
45
The Issue:
Social life has conflicting premises. Society is clearly man-made, but when we are born into it and start actingt, it is a given.
Acting in it, we often intend to change it, sometimes it does change sometimes not. If we succeed to change something,
often it changes in a way different from what we had intended. Moreover, there are many changes which are unintended.
Social processes are going on in structures which are given at that moment. Often they go on behind our backs and without
being realized, moving society in directions we may not want. Attempts at controlling and steering such social forces have
turned out quite ineffective. Organizational actors which are supposed to do so, e.g. governments, are quite helpless, the
more we move towards global issues. "Social forces" does not refer to some global conspiracy group, but to the
mechanisms and processes built into society at a given moment.
This problem was presented in previous conferences of RC51. This session is intended to explore to what extent and
possibly by what (new and innovative) mechanisms human intention can effectively influence where society is going, also
at the global level. The session will start with a series of short introductory statements by the presenters an invited
panellists, after which discussion will be open also to the participants, so that hopefully ideas about “points of
intervention” will come up.
14:15 - 14:45
1) John Raven: What is the problem?
2) Bernd Hornung: Some ideas towards solutions
3) Karl-Heinz Simon: Helpful techniques of modeling social, technical, and ecosystems
4) Luciano Gallon: The potential contribution of computer simulation
5) Francisco Leon and Jordi Tena-Sanchez: A role for agent-based simulation?
6) David Hernández Casas: A sociopoetics of dwelling, A point of intervention?
7) Michael Paetau: A role for new social movements like the “Pirates” in Germany?
14:45 - 15:45
Plenary discussion with the panelists. Please note, the challenge is to present within 3 minutes a SMALL NUMBER OF KEY
POINTS of the paper/view which may be discussed in the following.
Note:
We expect to make the full papers by John Raven, Bernd Hornung, Francisco Leon and Jordi Tena-Sanchez, and David
Hernández Casas, as scheduled in the original program, available on CD along with some additional materials about the
issue.
Harnessing Social Processes for the Common Good
John RAVEN, Eye on Society, United Kingdom
46
The paper deals with ways of tackling the serious ecological, economic, and social problems facing our society.
Findings suggest that these problems are not economic but arise from the way society is run. The solution
proposes is a learning and management system which is decentralised, dynamic, and characterised by innovation
and evaluation. It will not appeal to those preoccupied with centralised planning, control, orderliness, and
narrowly defined efficiency.
The first of three requirements for any radical transformation in society is the creation of a climate of innovation
going along with better arrangements for monitoring innovative experiments.
Second, the evolution of much better arrangements is required for initiating the collection of information,
bringing it together, sifting it for good ideas, initiating action, monitoring the results, learning from the
monitoring process, and restarting the cycle. This is primarily a responsibility for public servants.
Third, new ways of thinking about management, bureaucracy, democracy, and citizenship are required.
Recognition is necessary that management has to focus on releasing the energy, creativity, and initiative of
others. Such innovation requires new forms of participative democracy grounded in network based supervision
of the public service. It cannot not be implemented by central decree. The invisible hand of the marketplace will
be replaced by visible monitoring and learning arrangements aimed at understanding systems processes. This
will allow the consideration, assessment, and control of multiple determinants of events and identification of a
wide range of desired and desirable outcomes.
The main aim of this paper is to help to operationalise a concept of “the information society”. An issue not
discussed in the paper, but to which input is expected from the audience, is methodology. What is the
appropriate methodology to understand and analyze the systems processes? Systemograms? Computer
simulation? If so, which kind of simulation?
Human Resources, Management, and Leadership in Turbulent Times. Stephen Covey from a
Sociocybernetic View: A Point of Intervention?
Bernd HORNUNG, Data Protection Office, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Marburg,
Germany
Society is man-made, but when we are born into it and start acting, it is a given. Social processes are going on in
structures given at that moment. Often they go on behind our backs without being realized, moving society in
unwanted directions. Attempts at controlling and steering such social forces turned out quite ineffective, and
organizational actors, which are supposed to do so (like governments), are quite helpless. "Social forces" does
not refer to some global conspiracy group, but to the mechanisms and processes built into society at a given
moment.
This paper explores to what extent and possibly by what mechanisms human intention can effectively influence
where society is going, also at the global level.
For coping with this situation it is proposed. To say definitely farewell to the machine paradigm of determination
of social processes and to adopt a cybernetic view, conceiving individuals, social systems, and societies as
navigating in troubled waters which cannot be influenced while social systems themselves can be steered. Covey
calls this the knowledge-worker mindset.
Also individual, collective, and organizational behaviours are needed towards what Covey calls the habits of
effective people, which corresponds to sociocybernetic principles.
With regard to the latter the present paper proposes that the ideas of the late Stephen Covey, a renowned
researcher, consultant, and coach in management and leadership might show a way to develop such new and
different behaviours the current state of the world calls for.
Covey calls this new orientation the "industrial mind-set" vs. the "knowledge worker mind-set" of knowledge
society. He presents a coherent scientifically grounded approach which is not declared "systemic" or "(socio-
47
)cybernetic" explicitly. Implicitly, however, Covey takes a systems approach and the paper will argue that it is
fully in line with sociocybernetics and the new orientations e.g. John Raven calls for.
Preference Falsification, Social Influence and Triggering Events of Abrupt Social Changes
Francisco LEON, Universitat de Girona, Spain and Jordi TENA-SANCHEZ, Universitat Autonoma de
Barcelona, Spain
Kuran’s models of preference falsification helped us to better understand why some abrupt social changes take
us by surprise but are perfectly explainable in hindsight. To him, sudden changes in public opinion are sometimes
the result of certain social influence processes that put an end to a lasting period of concealment of private
preferences. In this paper, we present an Agent-Based Simulation that allows us to overcome some of the main
limitations of Kuran’s models. (1) Unlike classical mathematical models based on homogeneous and utility
maximizing agents, we model heterogeneous actors guided by simple and cognitive feasible decision rules
(heuristics) conditioned by time, space and social interactions. (2) Our model captures the central role of status
hierarchies in preference falsification: the concealment of beliefs is highly dependent on face-to-face
interactions between high and low status agents. (3) We also model the impact of preference falsification on
beliefs adaptation. While the concealment of private preferences could be seen as a result of social forces
operating upon the individual, our model shows that micro-level social influence processes taking place in small
groups explain the spread of preference falsification, but they also have the potential for its reversal. Analyzing
the simulation outputs we identify some triggering events that can lead to a massive disclosure of private
preferences and thus to an abrupt change in public opinion. Specifically, we focus our analysis in the role of
exogenous factors affecting (1) agents’ beliefs about others’ opinions, (2) people’s political thresholds for
preference falsification, and (3) changes in the distribution of private preferences. The knowledge of these
triggering events could help us to improve our ability to steer social influence dynamics in such a way that the
undesirable and distorting gap between public and private political preferences could be overtaken, thus leading
to relevant social changes.
Epistemology for a Sociopoetics on Dwelling
David HERNANDEZ CASAS, UNAM, Mexico
Mexico city has become a constant reminder of our failure as dwellers and designers of our habitat. Architecture
and urbanism are two disciplines that have shaped the city and the way people inhabit it. But these have failed
to account for a city that is for the peolpe and not just for commerce or politics and cars. Therefore, failed
architecture and urbanism are only capable to produce wrong representations and practices of dwelling.
My research question is: What epistemological, sociological and artistic integrated processes might be
constructed to look for a sociopoetics that aims to transform representations and practices of inhabiting our
city? To achieve that porpuse I have integrated a theoretical corpus under a systemic perspective based on the
Adaptive Model for Social Analysis.[1] Formed by: a) Piaget and Rolando Garcia’s genetic and constructivist
epistemology, b) Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of habitus[2] and, c) a block of artistic, architectonic, urbanistic and
philosophical discourses on dwelling. With these basis I can face the challenge to have a better understanding
of the habitus of dwelling organized as a complex social system, and it also guides me into constructing an artistic
practice that I call sociopoetics.
As part of the results of such sociopoetics, I present the project called “Ciudad en segundo piso/Pie de casa de
azotea” as a series of artistic, architectural and urbanistic proposals designed by myself to come up with better
ways of living within Mexico City’s chaotic environment.
[1] Amozurrutia, J. (2011). Complejidad y Ciencias Sociales. Un modelo adaptativo para la investigación
interdisciplinaria. México. CEIICH-UNAM
48
[2] García R. (2000). El conocimiento en Construcción. España. Gedisa, y Bourdieu, Pierre. (1997). Razones
Prácticas. Sobre la teoría de la acción. Barcelona. Anagrama y (2012). La Distinción. Criterio y bases sociales del
gusto. México. Taurus
16:00 - 17:30,
RC51 Business Meeting
Thursday, 14 July 2016
09:00 - 10:30,
Inclusive Innovation for Inclusive Growth
Session Organizer: Eva BUCHINGER, Austrian Institute of Technology AIT, Austria
Chair: Saburo AKAHORI, Tokyo Woman’s Christian University, Japan
Socioenvironmental Development As a Guided Self-Organized PHASE Transition
Felipe LARA-ROSANO, Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad, UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL
AUTONOMA DE MEXICO, Mexico
Development is an evolutionary socioeconomic process characterized by the improvement in the sustainable
satisfaction of the basic needs of the population related with a societal system.
A socioeconomic system has four types of interrelated economic processes:
a) Production of goods.
b) Exchanging part of the goods produced for other goods produced outside the system.
c) Investing part of the available goods to enlarge its productive infrastructure.
d) Consuming part of the available goods to satisfy the needs of its population.
It is the balanced development of these four types of economic processes what allows the development of the
socioeconomic system.
The socioeconomic system may be modeled as a complex adaptive system in interaction with its environment.
Its four economic processes have properties expressed as state variables associated with a value that is changing
through the development process. The analysis of the development dynamics is based on the behavior of these
state variables.
49
An underdeveloped society is not able to satisfy the basic physiological and safety needs of the majority of its
people because its state is on the basin of a poverty attractor. Then it must implement a guided self-organizing
phase transition to a sustainable development attractor as following:
1. Analyze its economic processes through participatory workshops.
2. Define short, medium and long-term development objectives.
3. Prioritize problems to be solved in the development process.
4. Identify and collect the appropriate resources to solve the detected problems.
5. Programming, implementing and monitoring the specific actions to address the problems identified.
In this paper a conceptual model of the development process is presented, based on the Complex Systems
Approach and tested through a field research and a detailed case study in the State Chiapas.
Inclusive Innovation: A Systems Theoretic Perspective
Eva BUCHINGER, Innovation Systems, Austrian Institute of Technology AIT, Austria
Inclusive innovation is nowadays a catchword in political strategies such as of the OECD, the World Bank, and
the European Union. Because of its diverse use, the underlying theoretical foundation is somewhat blurred. This
contribution aims at clarifying the concept of inclusive innovation on the basis of social systems theory (N.
Luhmann, R. Stichweh). Inclusive innovation can thereby occur on several system levels: basically on the level of
interaction systems (face-to-face), followed by the level of organization systems (membership) and – most close
to the above mentioned political concern – on the level of function systems such as education, economy, health
etc. Therefore, the focus will be on the latter. Inclusive innovation on the level of function systems can unfold in
four steps. First, identify weakly included (or even excluded) societal groups (elderly people, unemployed youth,
migrants etc.). Second, ensure that weakly included groups do have a reasonable chance to be included (good
education, reasonable jobs, optimal health-care etc.). Third, consider the (possible) necessity of innovations
especially designed to better integrate the weakly included (i.e. social innovations such as micro-credits or
product innovations such as easy useable, cheap equipment especially designed for the weakly integrated).
Forth, enable participation in the development of future benefits and services which these function systems
provide (via ‘open innovation’, ‘distributed innovation’, ‘user innovation’ etc.). From a systems theoretical
perspective it is most striking that a person (i.e. an embodied psychic system with a social ‘persona’) is usually
not fully integrated in every function system (e.g. as it may be true for the science system). Therefore, the
concept of inclusive innovation may also not be treated as a universal demand. This contribution will discuss the
above mentioned four steps of inclusive innovation in relation to the specific conditions of different functions
systems.
Complexity of Social Systems in the Era of Information Overload
Czeslaw MESJASZ, Cracow University of Economics, Poland
Increasing amount of information in modern society has brought about numerous unpredicted and
unpredictable consequences. One of them is changing meaning of complexity applied in description and analysis
of phenomena at all levels of societal hierarchy. A survey of definitions of complexity of social systems allows to
identify two approaches. First, “hard” complexity associated with mathematical modelling of non-linear
phenomena, dynamical systems, etc. Second, “soft” complexity, which is either based upon analogies and
metaphors deriving from the “hard” complexity, or which is associated with qualitative indigenous ideas of
complexity of social systems, e.g. Luhmann. It may be concluded that complexity reflects subjective perception
of the world and of the observer herself/himself – “complexity is in the eyes of the beholder” and social systems
can be treated as self-reflexive “complexities of complexities”.
50
The interpretation of complexity of social systems as a consequence of insufficient capability of information
processing by an observer obtains a new weight in the time of exponentially increasing amount of information
stored and transmitted in modern society.
The aim of the paper is to provide at least partial answers to the following questions:
What types of barriers of perception and understanding of social systems by individual observers result from
increased amount of information?
What are the consequences of information asymmetry in social systems resulting from the increasing amount
of information?
What are the new phenomena associated with reflexivity and self-reflexivity of social systems which are
resulting from rapidly increasing amount of information?
Inclusion of Digital Technologies in the School of Catalonia, Spain. Consequences of the
Compulsive Implementation of the 1x1 Project: "Escuela 2.0"
Pablo RIVERA, Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain; Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
Nowadays we are experiencing a growing phenomenon of overcrowding and inclusion of digital technologies in
key areas of our lives. However, a reflective and democratic basis has not always been given to this process.
Compulsive initiatives have also proliferated, demonstrating the existence of a deterministic trend regarding its
use, imposing the debate about the need and real use of them.
This situation tends to increase in education area, where the inclusion of digital technologies in the classroom is
generating profound institutional andpedagogical changes. An emblematic case of this is the "Escuela2.0"
project, that was implemented by the Spanish Government in 2009 in order topromote the digitization of the
classroom in the first secondary years and in some primary schools. This digitalization was executed providing
infrastructureand equipment as well as training and advice to the teachers. However, given the rejection
generated by its compulsive execution by part of the educational community and the deep economic crisis lived
in Spain in 2012, the project was canceled. As consequence, hundreds of schools were left adrift with the
obligation to manage the project by themselves.
The process and the results obtained during the execution of the doctoral research entitled "Between innovation
and transience in the technological education policies: analysis of the impact of the "Escuela2.0" project in
Catalonia" are described in this paper. The actions that have been promoted byschools and the administration
once the project was closed are analyzed. In addition, emphasis is placed on the analysis of the consequences
of carrying out a public policy of this type in a compulsively way. The research was carried out through a study
case in the Salvador Espriu High School, located in Barcelona which is a reference center about the inclusion of
digital technologies in the classroom.
The Transformation of Reflexivity and Japanese Market
Machiko NAKANISHI, Chukyo University, Japan
The purpose of my presentation is to discuss the transformation of reflexivity and to study reflexivity in the
Japanese market. Reflexivity refers to the concept of reflecting oneself in the presence of others, and discovering
51
oneself by other’s reflections. By repeating this feedback process, we change who we are. In self-reflexivity agent
reflects on itself. Institutional reflexivity refers to social conditions upon which agent reflects.
Anthony Giddens thinks it is very important for reflexivity to be based on sociological and linguistic foundations.
He suggests many personal habits become collective as they are shaped by commodification, or as a result of
the influences of institutional reflexivity. Urlich Beck distinguishes reflection as self-conscious and reflexivity as
autonomous. He defines the autonomous, undesired, and unseen transition from industrial to risk society.
Scott Lash criticizes Beck and Gidddens, as they presuppose that reflexivity is essentially cognitive and
institutional. He draws attention to the aesthetic dimension of reflexivity than the cognitive. He insists capitalism
opens up possibilities not only cognitive but also aesthetic reflexivity. Aesthetic reflexivity is fundamentally
mimetic in nature, and is in the tradition of European modernism in the arts. It can be seen in the expressive
individualism in contemporary consumer capitalism. He also argues about hermeneutic reflexivity.
The concept of reflexivity changes according to social change. The senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch
are changed by markets and, globalized by commodification. Including senses, emotions, and consumer behavior
etc., new reflexivities can be born and transform themselves according to markets, which I call market reflexivity.
I conclude that in the global information society, market reflexivity will change us more radically and quickly
than at present. It is important especially for Japanese, to be conscious of market reflexivity to predict its future
affects and other reflexivities that may arise.
52
10:45 - 12:15,
Epistemic Uncertainty and Complexity Theories
Session Organizer: Andrea PITASI, World Complexity Science Academy, Italy
Chair: Andrea PITASI, Gabriele D'Annunzio University, Italy
Determinism and Unpredictability in Social Systems: Can Law Engender Development?
Andre FOLLONI, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Brazil
Most of the complex systems studied by the hard sciences, such as physical dynamical systems, modify
themselves according to determinant rules that can be described in mathematical terms. Those rules are what
we call scientific laws. Laws of this kind cannot be violated – you can’t violate the law of gravity. The determinism
associated with these rules lead to the thought that scientific method can engender a kind of knowledge that is
able to predict how a dynamical complex system will behave in the future: since you know the initial conditions
of a system and the rules that govern its evolution, than you will necessarily know how the system will behave
and also its final state. Chaos theory had shown how even systems governed by deterministic rules can behave
in unpredictably ways, if the system is sensitively dependent on the initial conditions. Chaos theory is then
responsible for the separation between determinism and predictability, at least in chaotic complex systems.
Hence one of the most important epistemological consequences of chaos theory is to accept that science does
not necessarily have to predict to be a real science, and that explain or describe does not necessarily involve the
ability of prediction. This situation is even more important in the soft sciences, such as social sciences, since the
behavior of the social systems’ agents is governed by rules that can be violated, whether these are economical,
ethical, legal or religious rules. So it seems like it is especially difficult to predict human and social behavior in
the long term. If this is true, then every attempt to create a law to produce some social consequence is involved
with a deep degree of uncertainty, and then complexity science in social sciences is even more complex than in
natural sciences.
The Notion of ‘Phase Transition' in the Social Science
Massimiliano RUZZEDDU, University Niccolo Cusano Rome, Italy
The notion ‘phase transition’ is one of the most important in the system and complexity theories. It denotes the
passage of a system to a different condition. Actually, the use of notion is quite more frequent in the natural
science, especially physics, and includes phenomena like liquid to vapor, not-magnetic to magnetic etc. This
presentation will explore the epistemic potentiality of this notion within the social sciences, where this category
denotes all the cases of social change of a system, no matter if global, national or local.
More precisely, I will focus on the difference between the first order and the second order phase transitions.
While the first describes an abrupt change from one state of order to another, the second refers to gradual and
fluid changes, with high degrees of chaos in the between.
The point is that, while the social structures change according to second order phase transitions, with chaotic
states such as strives, conflicts and other turbulences, the social representations of change are habitually first
53
order. In other words, gaps can arise between social actors, which figure out immediate and complete changes,
and structural changes, which are slow, incomplete and unclear.
Namely, those gaps are nowadays most frequent in the contemporary political-juridical domains, where political
programs and/or laws are issued to quickly respond to an ever growing number of social demands. The
consequence is that those programs fail to meet those demands, like in the case of school reforms in Italy. Basing
on this idea, I will try to draw a theoretical model, that can give account of the possible failures in the political
goal implementation, in term of conflicts between legal/political systems that hold first order phase-transitions
and the social structure that changes through second order phase-transitions.
Complexity and New Media Representations
Ivo Stefano GERMANO, University of Molise, Italy and Giorgio PORCELLI, University of Trieste, Italy
The analysis of complexity is so important as the study of the way in which complexity is communicated in
today’s world. So far the sociological debate has interpreted new media either within a technological perspective
or through a critical approach. This contribution aims at presenting an analysis of the new media environment
within the perspective of the theory of complexity. New media as the main conduit of today social
communication represents both an hyper-complex environment in itself and the representation of an hyper-
complex world. According to Luhmann sociology should be an unveiling science. However the same unveiling
attitude hasn’t been implemented by new media studies more prone to the hope of refounding the community
and follow the fashion and the enthusiasm towards everything that is or makes the network. These two features
constitutes, in Luhmann’s view, an environmental noise with respect to digital communication. In “Theory of
Society” Luhmann and De Giorgi consider the topic of the novelty of the communicative processes as an issue
of systemic reduction. Following the same path the argument could be extended and be an attempt to read the
luhmannian categories of the mass media reality and apply them to the new media context. Then it could be
possible to think of new media as an organizational and territorial “network environment” and with respect to
social communication as a new binary code of the new media semantic.
Visualizing Complex Global Change
Andrea PITASI, World Complexity Science Academy, Italy; Gabriele D'Annunzio University, Italy
At the very beginning of the famous movie WALL STREET – MONEY NEVER SLEEPS-Gordon Gekko starred by
Michael Douglas gets out of jail after 8 years. The out of field commentary says that every financial crisis is a
Cambrian Explosion……Sociological imagination is also the capability to visualize the invisible, intangible,
immsterial of social phenomena , especially the most complex ones : a spiral can help to make sense visually of
even the most turbulent dynamics
We are all living in a new “Cambrian Explosion” through which obsolete knowledge and beliefs are destroyed
and emerging new evolutionary systems start taking shape also possible to be visualized as turbulent, complex,
nonlinear, convergent metaspiral of convergent lower order convergence and this metoconvergence of
convergences shapes a spiral which is the visualization of the theorem of the next complex systems evolution.
ƒx Visualizing knowledge is systemically pivotal and the convergence of convergences (metaconvergence) is
taking shape as follows.
Starting from an interdisciplinary perspective this essay is focused on the analysis regarding how the megatrends
of demography, technological convergence and world order redesign are shaping a dematerialized global
scenario in which a key systemic bifurcation is emerging: on one side the Malthus Trap on the other one the
Gegnet, the limitless opening to the possible
54
Navigating the Sea of Epistemic Uncertainty in a World of Complexity
Ton JORG, University of Utrecht, Netherlands
Living in the Age of Complexity, most scholars of complexity have no clear understanding of complexity. This
state of art is very much part of what Helga Nowotny has called “the embarrassment of complexity” (Nowotny,
2013). This embarrassment “begins when we realize that old structures are no longer adequate and the new
ones are not yet in place” (p. 1). She continues: “when it dawns on us that the categories we normally use to
neatly separate issues or problems fall far short of corresponding to the real world, with all its non-linear
dynamical inter-linkages” (p. 1). Her position seems in agreement with other complexity scholars who have
noticed that complexity itself is still very much a contested concept. According to Melanie Mitchell “[M]any think
the word complexity is not meaningful” (Mitchell, 2011). She also makes mention of the fact that to most
complexity scholars there is not yet a science of complexity (see Mitchell, 2011, p. 299). Neither is a general
theory of complexity yet available. So, it may be concluded that understanding complexity is still very much a
problem in our 21st century of complexity. This problem may be linked to “a crisis of knowledge” (Cilliers, 1998,
p. 121). Time is ripe to recognize this crisis and to deal with this crisis of knowing itself (Jörg, 2014). In my
presentation, I will go deeper into the nature of the crisis: how this crisis is linked to how we view the role of
complexity in the world. This complexity is still very much a hidden complexity. Complexity can manifest itself
as dynamic, self-generating, self-sustaining, self-maintaining, and self-potentiating (Rescher, 1998). This the very
complexity we cannot see, but which is part of the real world. Time is ripe to reframe complexity for the sake of
dealing with this still hidden complexity.
55