The Non-linear Dynamics of Meaning-Processing in Social Systems

Social order cannot be considered as a stable phenomenon because it contains an order of reproduced expectations. When the expectations operate upon one another, they generate a non-linear dynamics that processes meaning. Specific meaning can be stabilized, for example, in social institutions, but all meaning arises from a horizon of possible meanings. Using Luhmann's (1984) social systems theory and Rosen's (1985) theory of anticipatory systems, I submit equations for modeling the processing of meaning in inter-human communication. First, a self-referential system can use a model of itself for the anticipation. Under the condition of functional differentiation, the social system can be expected to entertain a set of models; each model can also contain a model of the other models. Two anticipatory mechanisms are then possible: one transversal between the models, and a longitudinal one providing the modeled systems with meaning from the perspective of hindsight. A system containing two anticipatory mechanisms can become hyper-incursive. Without making decisions, however, a hyper-incursive system would be overloaded with uncertainty. Under this pressure, informed decisions tend to replace the "natural preferences" of agents and an order of cultural expectations can increasingly be shaped

Structural characterization of the clay mineral illite-1M

Illite is one of the major clay minerals found on the Earth’s surface, constituent of the soils, and araw material used for a variety of industrial applications. It is an Al-K mica-like, non-expanding,dioctahedral mineral that crystallizes in the monoclinic system. Its structure is very similar to that of2:1 mica, where two tetrahedral sheets sandwich an octahedral one, to build up the T-O-T sheet. Katoms, and possibly water molecules are hosted in the interlayer region.This work presents the results of the structural characterization of illite-1M from Northern Hungarywith the first attempt to refine the structure model and locate the interlayer water molecules. Thestructural characterization was accomplished using current state of the art analytical methodsavailable for the structural characterization of clays. The results illustrate the status of techniquesfor clay structure determination, as well as a structural model for illite.A chemical formula for the illite-1M under investigation can be written as:K0.78Ca0.02Na0.02(Mg0.34Al1.69Fe’’’0.02)[Si3.35Al0.65]O10(OH)2×nH2O.Structure simulations with WILDFIRE yielded a model with 30% of cis-vacant layers andexpandability percentage of 10 %. The value of the percentage of expandability was confirmed withNEWMOD whose best simulation was obtained with 90% of di-octahedral mica, 10% ofexpandable layers, and K = 0.8 in the interlayer region. The best structure simulation obtained withDIFFaX was obtained with a population of the K atoms of 80%. To obtain the best fit, 6 cells alongc (in agreement with the results of the TEM study) and an average dimension of the particles in thea-b plane of 300 nm were used.Besides the determination of the basic structure unit (the results are consistent with those obtainedwith the local information provided by the fit of the PDF data) and the model of disorder, therefinement with DIFFaX+ made it possible attempt to locate the interlayer water molecule and torefine its site population. Although physically sound, both the observed tetrahedral layercorrugation and the location of the water molecule need further experimental support, because thefinal fit of the observed pattern is still imperfect. The reasons for this misfit are thoroughlydiscussed

Alfred Schutz and ethnomethodology: Origins and departures

The work of Alfred Schutz was an important early influence on Harold Garfinkel and therefore on the development of ethnomethodology. In this article, I try to clarify what Garfinkel drew from Schutz, as well as what he did not take from him, specifically as regards the task of social inquiry. This is done by focusing in detail on one of Schutz’s key articles: ‘Concept and Theory Formation in the Social Sciences’. The aim is thereby to illuminate the relationship between Schutz’s views on the character of social science and Garfinkel’s radical proposal for a re-specified focus of investigation. This is further pursued by examining an important debate about the link between Schutz and ethnomethodology