Contribuciones ontológicas y epistemológicas de la teoría luhmanniana del observador

Abstract

This article analyzes the contributions of Luhmann’s theory of the observer to the understanding of his ontological and epistemological position and to the clarification of the most meaningful discussions on it. Given the lack of a specific and systematic approach, the theory of the observer is characterized through the conceptual elements that shape it: the distinction between operation and observation, the distinction between types and levels of observation, operational closure and structural coupling. Subsequently, the article reviews the main discussions over his ontology and epistemology and, after observing them from the standpoint of the theory of the observer, presents its own interpretation.