Departmental Papers (ASC)

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of this Version

8-1999

Comments

Suggested Citation:
Krippendorff, K. (1999). "Beyond Coherence." Management Communication Quarterly. Vol. 13(1). pp. 135-145.

The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Management Communication Quarterly. Vol. 13(1). 1999., © SAGE Publications, Inc. at the Management Communication Quarterly. page: http://mcq.sagepub.com/ on SAGE Journals Online: http://online.sagepub.com/

Abstract

Much has happened since the 1960s and 1970s when the idea of self-organization emerged and began to alter our conceptions of human nature, of social organization, and of a social science that had heretofore been wedded to linear causal explanations. The experience that systems could organize themselves has been revolutionary and constitutes a paradigm shift that is still ongoing. In the following, I will (A) distinguish between indigenously and self-organizing systems, (B) consider autopoiesis as a biological step towards selfhood, (C) propose a way to distinguish selves and Others, and, based on this, (D) suggest self-organization to be a social phenomenon. As the notion of self-organization reconceptualizes social organization and human experience, I will close with (E), suggestions for further work on self-organization.

Date Posted: 12 January 2011

This document has been peer reviewed.