{"product_id":"theories-of-distinction-niklas-luhmann-9780804741231","title":"Theories of Distinction: Redescribing the Descriptions of Modernity","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe essays in this volume by Germany's leading social theorist of the late twentieth century formulate what he considered to be the preconditions for an adequate theory of modern society.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe first two essays deal with the modern European philosophical and scientific tradition, notably the ogy of Edmund Husserl. The next four essays concern the crucial notion of observation as defined by Luhmann. They examine the history of paradox as a logical problem and as a historically conditioned feature of rhetoric; deconstruct the thinking of Jacques Derrida, especially his language-centered allegiances; discuss the usefulness of Spencer Brown's \u003ci\u003eLaws of Form\u003c\/i\u003e; and assess the consequences of observation and paradox for epistemology.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe following essays present Luhmann's theory of communication and his articulation of the difference between thought and communication, a difference that makes clear one of Luhmann's most radical and controversial theses, that the individual not only does not form the basic element of society but is excluded from it altogether, situated instead in the environment of the social system. The book concludes with a polemic against the critical thought of the Frankfurt School of postwar German social thought.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Niklas Luhmann\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0804741239\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780804741231\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Stanford University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 02\/25\/2002\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 240\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.72lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.98h x 6.06w x 0.61d","brand":"Niklas Luhmann","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43947216240895,"sku":"9780804741231","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/products\/img_2cf67204-294b-4196-a38c-d8df2e8eb0fd.jpg?v=1681517414","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/theories-of-distinction-niklas-luhmann-9780804741231","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}