Society and the moral semantics of the COVID-19 pandemic: a social systems approach

Abstract

PurposeIn a context of critical transition such as the COVID-19 pandemic, moral semantics take a prominent role as a form of self-description of society. However, they are not usually observed, but rather assumed as self-evident and necessarily “good.” The purpose of the article is to summarize the theory of morality from the social systems' perspective and illustrate with concrete examples the polemogenous nature of moral communication.Design/methodology/approachThis article presents an analysis of the role of morality in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, from the perspective of Niklas Luhmann’s social systems theory. Applying the method of second-order observation, it describes three cases of moral semantics disseminated via mass media and social media, and it examines their connection with the structural situation of subsystems of society during the pandemic crisis (particularly healthcare, politics and science).FindingsSecond-order observation of moral communication demonstrates to be fruitful to describe the conditions and consequences in which moralization of communication occurs, particularly in a situation of critical transition around the healthcare crisis. The three examples examined, namely, the hero semantics directed to healthcare workers, the semantics of indiscipline and the controversies around pseudo-sciences and conspiracy theories, show how they are based on social attribution of esteem and disesteem, how they try to answer to troublesome situations and contradictions that seem difficult to cope, and how they are close related to the emergence of conflicts, even when they seem positive oriented and well intentioned.Originality/valueThis paper is an attempt to test the usefulness of Luhmann's theory of society to understand the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and particularly the role of moral communication in concrete examples.

Intimate Partner Abuse and Homicide During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Situational Action Theory Analysis

“…Changes in Moral Contexts. During the pandemic, many jurisdictions experienced an increase in rhetoric around prosocial behavior, morality, and rule-following in the context of the pandemic (Ekberg et al, 2021;Morales, 2022;Skog & Lundström, 2022). Prominent public discourses asserted the need to make altruistic sacrifices in support of the common good by following new rules designed to minimize transmission of COVID-19, maintain manageable demands on public institutions and resources, and sustain the economy.…”

Relational positionism: a constructive interpretation of morality in Luhmann's social systems theory

“…Luhmann links attention to risk. When an alarm directs attention to a risk (Luhmann, 1995, p. 394; Morales, 2022), the disturbance influences system operations (Luhmann et al ., 2013, p. 196). It is the role of attention to connect the complexity of different systems by activated attention (Luhmann et al ., 2013, p. 243).…”

“…Luhmann's views on morality have been very differently evaluated. Scholars have put forward important critical points of discussion about Luhmann's theory, such as the role of morality related to risks and dangers (Morales, 2022), reclaiming the position of morality in functional differentiation (Valentinov, 2019; Valentinov et al ., 2016) or discussing the tensions between ethics and epistemology (Dallmann, 1998; Roth et al ., 2020; Scholl, 2012). At the same time, scholars have stressed its emancipatory and anti-totalitarian strength (Harste and Laursen, 2022) and Luhmann's view that Luhmann himself always encouraged further critical reflection, also on his theory (Laursen et al ., 2022).…”

Moral communication observed with social systems theory. An introduction

“…S ociety and the moral semantics of the COVID-19 pandemic: a social systems approach by Morales (2021) describes three cases of moral semantics as they appear in the mass media in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. The author examines how these semantic are linked to different subsystems of society.…”