Double contingency

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Double contingency is a technical term in structural functionalism and in sociological systems theory that was introduced by Talcott Parsons and adopted and modified by Niklas Luhmann . From a systems-theoretical point of view, the term describes the problem of how and under what conditions interaction or communication can begin as a system-building operation and social systems can arise.

The term describes (in its pure form) a social situation in which at least two participants perceive each other, and in which it is still completely indefinite what should happen next. The situation is characterized by the fact that nothing is necessary (to do) and at the same time nothing is impossible (to do); Contingency consists in the exclusion of necessity and impossibility . Because this applies to both participants at the same time, we speak of double contingency. If each of the two only wants to commit to the other and only wants to (or can) connect his behavior / action to that of the other, the problem arises that no beginning is conceivable because it is not clear which of the two will start with what should. For example, there is no topic for communication contributions. With every possible topic, there is no need to initiate that exact topic. Any other subject could be used.

If a selection of actions is spoken of, then double contingency is the result when, within a social interaction, the selected actions of two interaction partners ("Alter (One)" and "Ego (I)") are mutually dependent on the alternative actions selected by the other A communication context is only stabilized through the development of expectations that are generalized by the interaction partners through various situations.

In this pure form of double contingency, all limitations of the possibilities (which can be described as historical, situational or individually) are disregarded. A story is disregarded that would suggest a certain behavior / action or topic. For Luhmann, the term not only describes situations in which people are involved. For Luhmann, the term is also suitable for disregarding people as individuals; double contingency can also occur between social systems. However, even for Niklas Luhmann, pure double contingency - a socially completely indefinite situation - does not occur in social reality. The term is useful as a starting point for considering what is particularly suitable for breaking the circle. Every self-determination generates information and connection value. For Luhmann, the situation of double contingency is therefore highly sensitive to almost any determination. With regard to the problem of double contingency, a solution to the problem thus sets in motion by itself; all that is necessary for this is time. Luhmann sees - in contrast to Parsons - communication as a phenomenon of contingency reduction that arises out of itself (uncertainty reduction).

Double contingency is the cause and condition for social systems to emerge as emergent orders . Social systems emerge from psychic systems (consciousnesses) insofar as the emergence and existence of social systems does not depend on the complexity of the psychic systems (consciousnesses) involved being able to be controlled or calculated. To put it simply: communication events - and social systems with communication - arise because (not: although) people cannot connect their thoughts directly to one another and cannot fully calculate the other in each case.

Single receipts

  1. See: Jurit Kärtner: The problem of double contingency as a starting problem of the social and the sociological theory. Proposal for a systematization of Niklas Luhmann's sociological systems theory . In: Journal for Theoretical Sociology 4/1 (2015) pp. 60–88.
  2. ^ Niklas Luhmann, Soziale Systeme , Frankfurt 1984, p. 152, with further references
  3. “There is a double contingency inherent in interaction. On the one hand, ego's gratifications are contingent on his selection among available alternatives. But in turn, alter's reaction will be contingent on ego's selection and will result from a complementary selection on alter's part. Because of this double contingency, communication, which is the precondition of cultural patterns, could not exist without both generalization from the particularity of specific situations (which are never identical for ego and alter) and stability of meaning which can only be assured by 'conventions 'observed by both parties. " ( General Statement . In: Talcott Parsons, Edward A. Shils: Toward a General Theory of Action . Cambridge, Mass. 1951, p. 16; quoted from Niklas Luhmann: Arbeitsteilung und Moral. Durkheims theory . In: Emile Durkheim: Über Social division of labor. Study on the organization of higher societies . Suhrkamp Frankfurt am Main, 1st edition 1992. ISBN 3-518-28605-6 . p. 30, note 19)
  4. Niklas Luhmann: Social Systems , Frankfurt 1984, p. 153 f.
  5. Ibid., P. 168
  6. “Every beginning is easy.” Ibid., P. 184
  7. Ibid., P. 166, p. 176
  8. Ibid., P. 154 f, p. 157