Autopoietic systems and language games. A family resemblance between Ludwig Wittgenstein and Niklas Luhmann

Abstract

This article makes a comparison between Ludwig Wittgenstein philosophy of language and Niklas Luhmann social theory. Specially it explores the concept of autology in both authors. From here, the aim is to show how Luhman as Wittgenstein broke with certain conceptions of society and language, marked by the ideas of order, hierarchy, simplicity and unity, supporting the new theories which pay special attention on complexity and plurality.