The Making of Meaning

"By making Luhmann's theory of meaning more available to the English-reading world, Christian Morgner makes an important contribution, broadening the conversation in cultural sociology today."" -Jeffrey C. Alexander, Lillian Chavenson Saden Professor of Sociology, Yale University Christian Morgner's valuable book will prove a milestone in understanding an important part of contemporary sociological theory. It covers new ground by introducing to the anglophone reader a fresh and much broader understanding of Niklas Luhmann's multi-stranded and historically informed social theory. Bringing together newly translated parts of Luhmann's work with a wide range of its interpretation from German and other European and American scholars, the author is able to move beyond a narrow and limiting understanding of Luhmann's oeuvre as solely concerned with autopoietic systems. Morgner has done sociology a great service by rediscovering new aspects of Lumann's work and making his complex thought accessible to non-Germanic readers, without sacrificing the depth and breadth of Luhmann's work."" -Christel Lane, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Cambridge This book, edited by Christian Morgner, for the first time presents Anglophone readers with a systematic overview of Niklas Luhmann's works in the sociology of knowledge and culture, without which we cannot gain a sufficient understanding of his systems-theoretical oeuvre. Based on these texts, readers will gain insight into how Luhmann's theory is grounded on his rich knowledge of history and culture, as well as into his position in the tradition of German historical and cultural studies since Max Weber, Georg Simmel, and Ernst Cassirer. An exciting read is guaranteed!"" -Takemitsu Morikawa, Professor of Sociology, Keio University"