Abstract
The paper introduces a new concept of social entropy and a new concept of social order, both based on the normative framework of society. From these two concepts, typologies (logical and historical) of societies are inferred and examined in their basic features. To these ends, some well-known concepts such as entropy, order, system, network, synergy, norm, autopoieticity, fetality, and complexity are revisited and placed into an integrated framework. The core body of this paper addresses the structure and the mechanism of social entropy, understood as an institutionally working counterpart of social order. Finally, this paper concludes that social entropy is an artefact, like society itself, and acts through people’s behavior.
Keywords: social entropy, normative network, societal order, synergy, auto-poiesis, information, communication, predictability, uncertainty, hubbing, complexity
1. Introduction
1.1. Aims of This Paper
The paper is aimed at delivering a new perspective on the concept of social entropy, which is related to the concept of social order and based on social justice precepts. To this end, three main issues are pursued: (a) A new comprehensive account of the concept of social entropy, especially for modern free and democratic societies; (b) a new comprehensive account of the concept of social order, especially grounded on social justice requirements; (c) two logical and inter-related models for social entropy and social order, respectively, as well as a co-evolutionary mechanism that connects the two models. Indeed, these two concepts are examined together and inter-conditioned—as a paired item. To this end, a set of related must be defined and integrated into the intended comprehensive account of the social entropy—including network, synergy, order, system, norm, autopoieticity, fetality, hubbing, and complexity. Our hope is to help orient the research on social entropy toward a direction that strictly links this concept to its institutional and cultural paradigm, by removing it from the dangerous and unproductive concepts of mechanic-ism and thermodynamic-ism.
Indeed, this research is engaged in answering at least four questions: (a) What is social order? (b) what is social entropy? (c) how are social order and social entropy inter-conditioned and what is the mechanism of such inter-conditioning? and (d) what is the social justice background that social entropy could be modelled on?
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