Niklas Luhmann’s Theory of Politics and Law

Niklas Luhmann's social theory stands in direct opposition to the dominant 'anthropocentric' traditions of legal and political analysis. King and Thornhill now offer the first comprehensive, critical examination of Luhmann's highly original theory of the operations of the legal and political systems. They describe how from the perspective of his 'sociological enlightenment' Luhmann continually calls to account the certainties, the ambitions and rational foundations of The Enlightenment and the idealized versions of law and politics which they have produced. Niklas Luhmann Is Rapidly Becoming Recognized As One Of The Most Original And Controversial Intellectual Figures Of The 20th Century. Michael King And Chris Thornhill Offer The First Comprehensive Account Of His Social Theory As It Relates To Law And Politics. They Explain His Complex Ideas, Placing Them In Broad Cross-disciplinary Debates. Luhmann's Theory, They Contend, Stands In Direct Opposition To The 'anthropocentric', Humanist And Liberal Traditions That Have Dominated Modern Legal And Political Thought. As Such It Opens Up The Possibility Of A New Paradigm - One Where The Certainties, Ambitions, And Rational Foundations Of The Enlightenment Are Continually Subjected To Critical Observation. The Authors Also Answer Those Critics Who Reject Luhmann Out Of Hand As An Ultra-conservative, Arguing That His Conservatism Should Be Seen As A Challenge To Prevailing 'idealisms', And As A Catalyst For A Radical Rethink Of The Role Of Theory In The Social Sciences.--jacket. Luhmann's Social Theory -- Society's Legal System -- The Political System -- The Subject Of Liberalism -- Risk And The Environment -- Conclusion: Luhmann And His Critics. By Michael King And Chris Thornhill. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 250-258) And Index. "Niklas Luhmann is rapidly becoming recognized as one of the most original and controversial intellectual figures of the 20th Century. King and Thornhill offer the first comprehensive account of his social theory as it relates to law and politics. They explain his complex ideas, placing them in broad cross-disciplinary debates. Luhmann's theory, they contend, stands in direct opposition to the 'anthropocentric', humanist and liberal traditions that have dominated modern legal and political thought. As such it opens up the possibility of a new paradigm - one where the certainties, ambitions, and rational foundations of the Enlightenment are continually subjected to critical observation. King and Thornhill also answer those critics who reject Luhmann out of hand as an ultra-conservative, arguing that his conservatism should be seen as a challenge to prevailing 'idealisms', and as a catalyst for a radical rethink of the role of theory in the social sciences. Book jacket."--BOOK JACKET Nicklas Luhmann is rapidly becoming recognized as one of the most original and controversial Controver intellectual figures of the 20th century Michael King and Chris Thornhill offer the first comprehensive account of his social theory as it relates to law and politics. They explain his complex ideas, placing them in broad cross-disciplinary debates. Luhmann's theory, they contend, stands in direct opposition to the 'anthropocentric', humanist and liberal traditions that have dominated modern legal and political thought. As such it opens up the possibility of a new paradigm -- one where the certainties, ambitions, and rational foundations of the Enlightenment are continually subjected to critical observation. The authors also answer those critics who reject Luhmann out of hand as an ultra-conservative, arguing that his conservatism should be seen as a challenge to prevailing 'idealisms', and as a catalyst for a radical rethink of the role of theory in the social sciences. Niklas Luhmann's social theory stands in direct opposition to the dominant "anthropocentric" traditions of legal and political analysis. King and Thornhill offer a comprehensive, critical examination of Luhmann's highly original theory ofthe operations of the legal and political systems. They describe how from the perspective of his "sociological enlightenment" Luhmann continually calls to account the certainties, the ambitions and rational foundations of The Enlightenment and the idealized versions of law and politics which they have produced Front Matter....Pages i-vi Luhmann’s Social Theory....Pages 1-34 Society’s Legal System....Pages 35-68 The Political System....Pages 69-128 The Subject of Liberalism....Pages 129-181 Risk and the Environment....Pages 182-202 Conclusion: Luhmann and his Critics....Pages 203-225 Back Matter....Pages 226-266 The authors of this title describe how, from the perspective of his "sociological enlightenment", Niklas Luhmann continually calls to account the certainties, the ambitions and rational foundations of The Enlightenment and the idealized versions of law and politics which they have produced