Instead of following the practice of ontology and saying “X is a function system,” we might state it is an injunction: “Call journalism a function system.” If we follow that injunction, what follows? If systems theory, as part of the science system, observes journalism as a function system, what follows from that? This is an “If . . . then” formula. If journalism observes news, then systems theory can observe this observer.
Journalism makes a distinction, creating a two-side form. It can then indicate the inside or the outside of the form, though not both simultaneously. Communication on the inside of form makes a difference in public opinion.
Construction
Draw a distinction
Content
Call it the first distinction.
Call the space in which it is drawn the space severed or cloven by the distinction.
Call the parts of the space shaped by the severance or cleft the sides of the distinction or, alternatively, the spaces, states, or content distinguished by the distinction.
–Spencer-Brown
Except that, in sociology, you act as a sexond-order oberver observing second-order observations autopoietically producing a social system. Which means that one of sociology’s main subject is to describe how first-order observers interested in matters stand being revalued by revalued by second-order observers looking at the contingency and complexity of their seemingly innocuous indications.
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That is pretty abstract, but I think I get it, more or less.
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