"You get your information on the facts merely by looking at what others have to say about it."
- Niklas Luhmann, "Introduction to Systems Theory"
from Google AI:
This quote from Niklas Luhmann (often rendered within the context of "second-order observation") describes how modern society handles knowledge and reality, as discussed in his work Introduction to Systems Theory (specifically regarding observations and the "observation of observers").
Context of the Quote
Luhmann argues that modern society has shifted from directly observing reality to "second-order observation"—the observation of observers.
Descriptions of Descriptions: Instead of looking at "facts" directly, we look at reports, news, scientific papers, and opinions about those facts.
Advanced Mode of Perception: This is not seen as a failing, but as the "advanced mode" of perceiving the world in functional domains like academia, economy, art, and politics.
Examples: We know about global warming, economic trends, or current events not by direct observation, but by "looking at what others have to say about it".
Meaning in Systems Theory
Observation of Observers: In a complex, functionally differentiated society, we cannot experience everything. Instead, we observe how others (scientists, journalists, politicians) observe the world.
Structural Complexity: Because function systems (like law, science, or media) are "operatively closed," they only observe their own operations and create their own version of reality.
Reducing Complexity: We "get our information on the facts" by selecting from the massive amount of communication produced by these systems.
This approach highlights that in the modern world, knowledge is essentially social, mediated, and constructed, rather than a direct perception of objective reality.
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