Abstract
An examination of Niklas Luhmann's sociology, focusing on the concept of self-thematization as an instrument for greater autonomy through self-understanding & self-legitimation in the conceptualization of history. The concept has its origins in the Enlightment's distinction between natural history & human history, born out of a self-conscious attitude of detachment from & scientific domination over nature. Self-thematization provides coherence to the different parts of a social corpus, operating as a form of social participation. Periods of historical transformation generate new acts of self-thematization, the creation of grand theory. The trajectory from grand theory to naturalism through nihilism & structuralism is traced in light of this concept. 20 References. R. Jaramillo