Systems theory’s synchronic framework makes diachronic theories of acceleration difficult

Evidence

Regrettably, Luhmann did not further work out a theory of time despite his repeated affirmations of the indispensable importance of temporality for the understanding of social systems. Instead it was Armin Nassehi who wrote The Time of Society, where, however, acceleration does not even appear as a keyword. Contrary to Luhmann’s hope, the systems-theoretical conception of time appears to be rather poorly suited for the development of a theory of acceleration since the distinctions employed by it make an analysis of the diachronic change of temporal structures harder rather than easier. This is because it first constitutes time as the difference of past and future in the operations of a given system and only then grasps it chronologically through observation of that system. Yet in its reflections on the temporalization of complexity and the influence on social decisions of the “urgency of the short-term” (Vordringlichkeit des Befristeten) that accompanies the scarcity of time in differentiated systems, systems theory does make an important contribution to a theory of acceleration. — Hartmut Rosa, Social Acceleration, 202

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to Luhmann and systems theory debates over time and social differentiation. — connects to: Even systems theory lacks adequate concepts to analyze cross-system temporal mismatch. — Hartmut Rosa, Social Acceleration: A New Theory of…, 201