Sociology of Cognition

What does radical constructivism mean?

Abstract

The mechanism of cognition has not been treated as a sociologically important theme. Luhmann's system theory, however, takes up this mechanism and bases the theoretical frameworks upon it.
In this paper, the auther sheds light on the content of Luhmann's epistemological declaration “radical constructivism”, and explains what that term means. The argument is as follows: 1.The problem of identity and meaning is considered in terms of observation. 2. Second order observations are clarified, distinguished from first order observations. 3. Observing system is observed as closed one that constructs its own reality and de-paradoxizes its own paradox.