In pursuit of ontology in Niklas Luhmann’s de-ontologization project

Abstract

Within the several controversies aroused by Niklas Luhmann’s sociological approach, stands a wide range of interpretations about the radical de-ontolo-gization of traditional vetero-european semantics. Due the contemporary rele-vance of this discussion, the following article identifies a group of ontological elements and argues that, far from refuting his theory, these are substantial to cope with its issues. Specifically, it examines Luhmann’s conceptualizations on ontology, complexity, systems, complex systems, time and reality as science’s condition of possibility.