Digital Transformation of Social Theory. A Research Update

Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Vol. 146 No. September, pp. 88-93 (2019)

12 Pages Posted: 23 Jan 2019 Last revised: 20 Jun 2019

See all articles by Steffen Roth

Steffen Roth

Excelia Business School; Kazimieras Simonavičius University

Date Written: January 17, 2019

Abstract

This article outlines the basic design of digitally transformed social theory. We show that any digital world is created by the drawing and cross-tabling of binary distinctions. As any theory is supposed to be concerned with truth, we introduce to and insist on the distinction between true and false distinctions to demonstrate how flexible matrix-shaped theory architectures based on true distinctions allow for the reduction and unfolding of the entire complexity of analogue or other possible social theories. The result of our demonstrations is the idea of a theoretical Supervacuus. The social equivalent of a universal Turing machine, this supervacuous social theory is virtually empty as it is based on only one proper theoretical premise (the idea of distinction [between true and false distinctions]), and therefore able to simulate all other social theory programmes. We conclude that our digitally transformed social theory design is particularly useful for observations of a digitally transformed society.

Keywords: Digital transformation, social theory, digital theory, universal social theory machine, supervacuus, true distinctions

Suggested Citation

Roth, Steffen, Digital Transformation of Social Theory. A Research Update (January 17, 2019). Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Vol. 146 No. September, pp. 88-93 (2019), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3317606 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3317606

Steffen Roth (Contact Author)

Excelia Business School ( email )

102 rue de Coureilles
Les Minimes
La Rochelle, 17024
France

Kazimieras Simonavičius University ( email )

Dariaus ir Girėno g. 21
Vilnius, 02189
Lithuania

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