Luhmann's Paradox

Luhmann’s Paradox highlights that while social systems (like institutions or society) rely on communication to maintain themselves, this very reliance can also generate confusion and complexity, making simple understanding difficult. In other words, the more a system depends on communication to organize itself, the more layered and intricate it becomes, which can obscure clarity and hinder straightforward understanding. This paradox underscores the tension between communication as a tool for coordination and the unintended complexity it can produce, challenging our ability to comprehend or simplify social processes effectively.