Biography of Niklas Luhmann (1927-1998)

Niklas Luhmann was a German sociologist, very recognized thanks to his formulation of social systems theory.

Niklas Luhmann's thinking is projected from various aspects, all interconnected, such as art, politics, economy, culture, religion and the media. That is, it is up to everything that is intertwined within the social system.

Niklas Luhmann Biography

Niklas Luhmann was born in Baja Saxony, Germany, on December 8, 1927. Son of a Switzerland and a German, dedicated to beer business. It is curious to have born and grown within a family that lacked academic tradition. His father took care of the family business of beer and his mother was dedicated to the hospitality, as his family had been doing.

Another remarkable detail is that, although his family opposed national socialism, Niklas was recruited by the Nazi army when he was 17 years old. He was arrested by the allies at the end of World War II, but He barely regained his freedom, entered to study the law career At Friburg University.

Despite the circumstances of his life, Luhmann obtained his title as a lawyer in 1953 and also a doctorate in Sociology, After studying sociology and administration theory.

His intentions to exercise the race were scarce, so He dedicated himself mainly to exercising a position as an official executing tasks related to the repair of the damage that the Nazi regime had caused.

In 1960 he accepted a scholarship that was granted to study sociology, for a year, at Harvard University. This changed the fate of his life, since from this decision the world owes much to his contributions. At Harvard University he was a student of the renowned Talcott Parsons, whose influence was also decisive for Niklas Luhmann, as he himself recognized him.

In 1962 Luhmann began to be part of the Research Institute of the Higher School of Sciences of the Administration of Spira, in Germany, occupying an administrative position. It was in this period when He published his first work, analyzing problems of a sociological nature, based on the use of systems theory.

Luhmann was invited by Helmut Schelsky to start his university career and In 1965 he entered the University of Münster, where he completed his studies in political sociology, in 1967. The following year he held a position as a professor at the University of Bieldfeld, until 1993, when he was a name Professor Emeritus.

In 1997 he received the European Amalfi Award, of Sociology and Social Sciences. In 1968 the well -known theoretical debate with Jürgen Habermas began, with an exchange that did not stop but with the death of Luhmann, in 1998.

Niklas Luhmann also won the Hegel Award, in 1988, for his role as editor of the magazine Zeitschrift Für Soziologie.

Niklas Luhman's work was extensive. Published more than thirty books on various topics, about economics, laws, religion, media, ecology, politics, love, among others.

The influence of Niklas Luhmann today

Luhmann still has relevance and enormous influence on sociological and philosophical thinking. In fact, he is an important reference author for these fields. His theory, and his conservative position, have made him a controversial figure.

Worldwide, is recognized as one of the greatest exponents of systems theory and constructivism. Niklas Luhmann was the one who developed the notion of autopoietic systems, that is, autonomous and self -referential.

He explained that People are a combination of different systems; some conscious and other neuro-phisiological, in addition to immune systems. However, biology cannot describe the conscious operations of human beings, so, to achieve this, the convergence of different disciplines is needed.

Luhmann's works have been translated into many languages, both from Europe and America. His work of social systems has been considered as the foundation of a new paradigm for social analysis.

Additionally, it is known as the exponent of the Zettelkaste Method, based on knowledge management and notes for research and study. He died at 70, on November 6, 1998, in Germany.

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Bibliography

• Arriaga Álvarez, and. G. (2003). Niklas Luhmann theory.
• Corsi, g., Esposito, e., BARALDI, c., & Luhmann, N. (nineteen ninety six). Glossary about Niklas Luhmann's social theory(Vol. 9). Ibeoamerican University.
• Luhmann, n. (1998). Social Systems: Guidelines for a general theory. Social systems, 1-445.
• Urteaga, e. (2010). Luhmann Niklas Systems Theory.  International Philosophy Magazine, fifteen.