Virtual attractors, actual assemblages
How Luhmann’s theory of communication complements actor-network theory
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2398029 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Ignacio Farías (0000-0002-6611-2975, WZB Berlin Social Science Center, Germany and Universidad Diego Portales, Chile, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2014 |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 24-41 |
| Publication date | 2014-02-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | European Journal of Social Theory (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1368-4310 • E-ISSN: 1461-7137 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/1368431013484003 |
| OpenAlex | W2113912339 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 8 |
| References cited | 39 |
This article proposes complementing actor-network theory (ANT) with Niklas Luhmann's communication theory, in order to overcome one of ANT's major shortcomings, namely, the lack of a conceptual repertoire to describe virtual processes such as sense-making. A highly problematic consequence of ANT's actualism is that it cannot explain the differentiation of economic, legal, scientific, touristic, religious, medical, artistic, political and other qualities of actual entities, assemblages and relationships. By recasting Luhmann's theory of functionally differentiated communication forms and sense-making as dealing with different types of virtual attractors calling for actualizations in concrete assemblages, I propose a symmetrical understanding of societal differentiation processes as based on the co-production of virtual attractors and actual assemblages
Actor–network theory · Attractor · Economics · Epistemology · Network theory · Order (exchange · Political science · Politics · Social science · Sociology · Computer Science · Embodied and Extended Cognition · Information Systems Theories and Implementation · Law · Mathematics · Philosophy · University-Industry-Government Innovation Models
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| Unique citing works | 8 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,67 |
| Citation span | 2014 - 2025 (12) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 8 |