Parsons, Luhmann and the Theorem of Double Contingency

Abstract

This article analyzes the ego/alter ego constellation of social interaction. Every social interaction constitutes a situation with double contingency, which is recognized as such by both sides: both know that both know that one could also act differently. The circularity of the relationship brings about indeterminacy; self-commitment would presuppose that others commit themselves and vice versa. How is this infinity problem solved? How can we account for the possibility of social interaction, and social order? Both Talcott Parsons and Niklas Luhmann have devoted considerable attention to the theorem of double contingency. Here, I analyze their theoretical formulations on this topic.

La doble contingencia como clave para una redefinición del concepto de orden social

“…En primer lugar, la dc se presenta en el planteo de Parsons como lo no social, es decir, con un sentido negativo en relación con el orden social (Vanderstraeten, 2002). De hecho, la posibilidad del orden social depende de la eliminación del problema.…”

“…Si en el planteo de 7 Sobre este punto me he extendido en otros trabajos, véase Gonnet (2015a;2015b). A su vez, hay artículos que han abordado en profundidad el vínculo entre Parsons y Luhmann en relación con la doble contingencia (Pignuoli Ocampo, 2013;Vanderstraeten, 2002). Aquí sólo retomo algunos núcleos centrales para mi argumento.…”

Intermittent Behavior Induced by Asynchronous Interactions in a Continuous Double Auction Model

“…Based on the hypothesis that it is possible to represent the changing order book by using a probabilistically determined set of orders, and that the changing book ampli¯es the perturbation caused by the uncertainty of the external world, we use an order set created stochastically at a given point in time and simultaneously consider the uncertainty of the external world. Thus, there is a possibility that the simultaneous consideration of a changing order book and perturbation from beyond the market sometimes leads to the overlapped uncertainty, and which can link to Luhmann's double contingency [38,62] that is proposed to expand the theory of autopoiesis including the concept of otherness. We assume that the overlapped uncertainty causes the anomalous actions by agents such as overestimation, and consequently this can be a key to understanding real-world markets.…”

Simulating Collective Behavior in Natural Disaster Situations: A Multi-Agent Approach

“…How individuals relate to each other in spite of their differences; 2. How the social relation comes from the orientation to the other in each attendant (Vanderstraeten, 2002).…”