Possibility of distinction
From Geography
The distinction theory, in combination with the constructionist aspects of Lumann’s theory, highlights the paradoxical and self referential nature of a range of social phenomena [1].
The very foundation of any observation, of any meaningful ‘experience’ is the drawing of a distinction between ’this’ and ‘other’ or ‘inside’ and ‘outside’. Trough this basic operation ‘something’ becomes distinct form ‘other’ and thus intelligible – as it now is distinct. This distinction-form is the core of Luhmann’s notion of meaning. Before the distinction there is only void(Mingers 1995) but through the event in which a distinction is constituted there is form, there is meaning [2].
The distinction of an observation is the blind spot of the observer. The observer can observe the inside of the distinction and the outside. But the distinction itself is invisible and can only be observed through another distinction. ( we are all famitliar with what can be used as a banal example of this: I cannot think exactly what I think or just thought, but can only think about me thinking)[3].
References:
1 Arnoldi, J. (2001) Niklas Luhmann. An Introduction. In: Theory, Culture & Society. Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 2-3.
2 Arnoldi, J. (2001) Niklas Luhmann. An Introduction. In: Theory, Culture & Society. Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 4
3 Arnoldi, J. (2001) Niklas Luhmann. An Introduction. In: Theory, Culture & Society. Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 8.
