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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the philosophical roots of Luhmann's theory in relation to its anti-totalitarian elements.Design/methodology/approachThe paper offers a conceptual discussion of the critical and anti-totalitarian angle in Niklas Luhmann's system theory.FindingsThis paper finds that systems theory has a critical potential.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge the anti-totalitarian element of Niklas Luhmann's system theory has not be discussed before the present contribution.

PurposeThe present article pertains to recent advances in social systems theoretical analyses of moral communication.Design/methodology/approachAn introduction to basic concepts and requirements for systems-theoretical approaches to morality and communication is provided, as is an introduction to 14 contributions to a pertinent special issue of Kybernetes.FindingsThe review of these 14 cases suggests that social systems theory enables researchers to study moral communication without necessarily performing it.Originality/valueThis article reappraises and challenges Niklas Luhmann's occasionally distanced attitude to morality, which has occasionally been understood as a form of moral communication itself.

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