1. Kent Palmer, Ph.D. kent@palmer.name http://archonic.net
Reflexive Sociology
Kent Palmer, Ph.D.
THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL THEORY CONSORTIUM, Fourth Annual Conference, May 18-21, 2003

2. Extension of General Systems Theory
Meta-system
Reflexive Social Special System
Autopoietic Symbiotic Special System
Dissipative Ordering Special System
System

3. General Schemas Theory
Ontic Hierarchy
Ontological Hierarchy
Gaia ?
Social Groups
Organisms
Organs
Cells
Macro-Molecules
Molecules
Atoms
Particles
Quarks
Strings ?
Pluriverse
Kosmos
World
Domain
Meta-system
Special Systems
System
Form
Pattern
Monad
Facet

4. Parts of the Whole Meta-system (Proto-gestalt)
Whole less than sum of parts
reflexive
Sociable number
Whole equal to sum of parts
autopoietic
Perfect number
dissipative
Amicable number
System
(Gestalt)
Whole greater than sum of parts

5. Mathematical Analogies
Hyper-complex algebras
Non-orientable surface
wavicle
Meta-system
sedenions
reflexive
octonioins
Hyper-kleinian bottle
super breather
autopoietic
quaternions
Kleinian bottle
breather
dissipative
complexnions
Mobius strip
soliton
system
real

6. Existence and Being Meta-system Wild Being1 Enigma (Flesh) Reflexive
Hyper Being2
Query (Differance)
Autopoietic
Process Being3
Dasein (being-in-the-world)
Dissipative
Pure Being4
Subject/Object
System

7. Kinds of Being Pure1 Process2 Hyper3 Wild4 present-at-hand determinate
modality
mathesis
psychology
ego
Pure1
present-at-hand
determinate
pointing
Subject /Object
Process2
ready-to-hand
probability
grasping
Dasein
Hyper3
in-hand
possibility
bearing
Query
Wild4
out-of-hand
propensity
encompassing
Enigma

8. Kinds of Sociology Pure Sociology1 (learning)
Looks at Subjects as objects of discipline
Normal Academic Sociology
Process Sociology2 (learning to learn)
Looks at methods and approaches of discipline
Naïve Philosophical and Methodological Sociology
Hyper Sociology3 (learning to learn to learn)
Looks at the absent foundations of the discipline
Postmodern Sociology – Derrida’s Differance, Heidegger -B-e-i-n-g- (crossed out)
Wild Sociology4 (learning to learn to learn to learn)
Undisciplined
NeoPostmodern Sociology -- Deleuze, John S Hall, Bataille, Plotnitsky, Castoriadis

9. Kinds of Reflexivity Reflexivity1
Subjects look at each other as objects
Reflexivity2
Dasein is thankful for its Sameness
Reflexivity3
Query is questioning the ability to Question
Reflexivity4
Enigma is confronting itself as sphinx asking the question “what is conscious social living humanity?”

10. Mapping of Theories Meta-system Bataille, Plotnitsky reflexive social
Deleuze and Guattari
Meta-system
Bataille, Plotnitsky
Eco-system
rhizome
reflexive social
O’Malley Sandywell
Social Field
socius
autopoietic symbiotic
Maturana Varella
Living Organism
body without organs
dissipative ordering
Prigogine
Consciousness
desiring machines
System
Klir
Artificial Allopoietic Systems
tree