Reflexive Sociology

Kent Palmer, Ph.D.

kent@palmer.name

http://archonic.net

THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL THEORY CONSORTIUM, Fourth Annual Conference,

May 18-21, 2003

Extension of General Systems Theory

• Meta-system

• Reflexive Social Special System

• Autopoietic Symbiotic Special System

• Dissipative Ordering Special System

• System

General Schemas Theory

• Pluriverse• Kosmos• World• Domain• Meta-system

– Special Systems

• System• Form• Pattern• Monad • Facet

Gaia ?

Social Groups

Organisms

Organs

Cells

Macro-Molecules

Molecules

Atoms

Particles

Quarks

Strings ?

Ontic Hierarchy Ontological Hierarchy

Parts of the WholeMeta-system (Proto-gestalt) Whole less than

sum of parts

reflexive Sociable number

Whole equal to sum of parts

autopoietic Perfect number

dissipative Amicable number

System (Gestalt) Whole greater than sum of parts

Mathematical Analogies

Meta-system

sedenions

reflexive octonioins Hyper-kleinian bottle

super breather

autopoietic quaternions Kleinian bottle breather

dissipative complexnions Mobius strip soliton

system real

Hyper-complex algebras

Non-orientable surface

wavicle

Existence and BeingMeta-system

Wild Being1 Enigma (Flesh)

Reflexive

Hyper Being2 Query (Differance)

Autopoietic

Process Being3 Dasein (being-in-the-world)

Dissipative

Pure Being4 Subject/Object

System

Kinds of Being

Pure1 present-at-hand

determinate pointing Subject /Object

Process2 ready-to-hand

probability grasping Dasein

Hyper3 in-hand possibility bearing Query

Wild4 out-of-hand

propensity encompassing

Enigma

modality mathesis psychology ego

Kinds of SociologyPure Sociology1 (learning)

Looks at Subjects as objects of discipline

Normal Academic Sociology

Process Sociology2

(learning to learn)

Looks at methods and approaches of discipline

Naïve Philosophical and Methodological Sociology

Hyper Sociology3

(learning to learn to learn)

Looks at the absent foundations of the discipline

Postmodern Sociology – Derrida’s Differance, Heidegger -B-e-i-n-g- (crossed out)

Wild Sociology4

(learning to learn to learn to learn)

Undisciplined NeoPostmodern Sociology -- Deleuze, John S Hall, Bataille, Plotnitsky, Castoriadis

Kinds of Reflexivity

Reflexivity1 Subjects look at each other as objects

Reflexivity2 Dasein is thankful for its Sameness

Reflexivity3 Query is questioning the ability to Question

Reflexivity4 Enigma is confronting itself as sphinx asking the question “what is conscious social living humanity?”

Mapping of Theories

Meta-system Bataille, Plotnitsky

Eco-system rhizome

reflexive social

O’Malley Sandywell

Social Field socius

autopoietic symbiotic

Maturana Varella

Living Organism body without organs

dissipative ordering

Prigogine Consciousness desiring machines

System Klir Artificial Allopoietic Systems

tree

Deleuze and Guattari