ABSTRACT
Niklas Luhmann’s autopoietic theory has been characterised as ‘a moving target’,2 not only because of its numerous mutations and its spiralling variety
of pronouncements, which depend on the field to which they are meant to apply,3 but also because of Luhmann’s ingenious way of progressing from idea to idea, assuming and incorporating change without ever being incoherent – although consistently being purposefully paradoxical. This quantum quality of Luhmann’s writing is only one of the problems one faces when dealing with the theory and certainly when trying to present even its most rudimentary premises in a few pages. Indeed, if Luhmann’s theory is justly characterised ‘ambitiously modest’,4 then my attempt to present it here must be absurdly ambitious if not futile. Still, this chapter should be read as an introduction to Luhmann’s autopoietic concepts, which will be enriched with new concepts and more elaboration in the course of the book.
