Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Non-cybernetic Theory of Social Metabolism

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Social Metabolism

Part of the book series: Environmental History ((ENVHIS,volume 3))

  • 2100 Accesses

Abstract

In this chapter we present and develop the minimal foundations of a proposal going beyond the essentially cybernetic methodology dominating studies of social metabolism.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adams RN (1975) Energy and structure. a theory of social power. University of Texas Press, Austin

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams RN (1988) The eight day: social evolution as the self-organization of energy. University of Texas Press, Austin

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams RN (2001) El octavo día. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, México

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnold-Cathalifaud M (2010) Constructivismo Sociopoiético. Revista del Magíster en Análisis Sistémico Aplicado a la Sociedad 23:1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Axelrod R (1984) The Evolution of Cooperation. Basic Books, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey K (2006a) Living systems theory and social entropy theory. Systems Research and Behavioral Science 23:291–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey KD (1990) Theory of Social Entropy. SUNNY Press, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey KD (1997a) The autopiesis of social systems: Assessing Lymahnn's Theory of self reference. Systems Research and Behavioral Science 14:83–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey KD (1997b) System entropy analysis. Kybernetes 26(6/7):674–688

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey KD (2006a) Sociocybernetics and social entropy theory. Kybernetes 35(3/4):375–384

    Google Scholar 

  • Bataille G (1989) The Accursed Share: An Essay on General Economy. Zone Books, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Bateson G (1993) Espíritu y naturaleza. Amorrortu, Buenos Aires

    Google Scholar 

  • Beauregard OC (1961) Sur l’equivalence Entre Information et Entropie. Sciences 11:51–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Naim A (2007) Entropy Demystified. World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Led., London

    Google Scholar 

  • Boltzmann L (1896/1964). Lectures on gas theory. University of California Press, Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  • Boulding KE (1978) Ecodynamics: A New Theory of Societal Evolution. Sage Publications, Beverley Hills

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavalli-Sforza LL (1996) Genes, Peoples, and Languages. University of California Press, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Clausius R (1879) The Mechanical Theory of Heat. Macmillan and Co., London

    Google Scholar 

  • Dockendorff C (2012) Veinticinco años en pos de un nuevo paradigma social: lecciones aprendidas. Polis 33:2–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Dorsey M (1997) Environmental justice: issues of racism, poverty and the environment. Capital. Nat Social 8(3):139–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Echevarria C (1998) A three-factor agricultural production function: the case of Canada. Int Econ J 2:63–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Faber D (1988) The Struggle for Ecological Democracy: Environmental Justice Movements in the United States. Guilford Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischer-Kowalski M (1997) Society's Metabolism. On the Childhood and Adolescence of a Rising Conceptual Star. In: Redclift M, Woodgate G (eds), The International Handbook of Environmental Sociology. Cheltenham: Edward Elga, London, pp 119–137

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischer-Kowalski M, Haberl H (2007) Socioecological transitions and global change: trajectories of social metabolism and land use. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer-Kowalski M, Weisz H (1999) Society as a hybrid between material and symbolic realms. toward a theoretical framework of society-nature interaction. Adv Hum Ecol 8:215–251

    Google Scholar 

  • Flannery K, Marcus J (2012) The Creation of Inequality: How Our Prehistoric Ancestors Set the Stage for Monarchy, Slavery, and Empire. Harvard University Press, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Georgescu-Roegen N (1971) The entropy law and the economic process. Harvard University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Georgescu-Roegen N (1977) Matter matters, too. In: Wilson KD (ed) Prospects for growth: expectations for the future. Praeger, New York, pp 203–313

    Google Scholar 

  • Georgescu-Roegen N (1975) Energy and the economic myths. South Econ J 41(3):347–368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Georgescu-Roegen N (1996) La ley de la entropía y el proceso económico. Fundación Argentaria, Madrid

    Google Scholar 

  • Giampietro M, Allen TFH, Mayumi K (2006) The epistemological predicament associated with purposive quantitative analysis. Ecol Complex 3:307–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giampietro M, Mayumi K, Ramos-Martin J (2008a) Multi-scale integrated analysis of societal and ecosystem metabolism (MUSIASEM). An outline of rationale and theory. Document de Treball. Departament d’Economia Aplicada

    Google Scholar 

  • Giampietro M, Mayumi K, Ramos-Martin J (2008b) Multi-scale integrated analysis of societal and ecosystem metabolism (MuSIASEM): theoretical concepts and basic rationale. Energy 34:313–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giampietro M, Mayumi K, Sorman AH (2011) The metabolic pattern of societies: where economists fall short. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Gintis H (2009) The bounds of reason: game theory and the unification of the behavioral sciences. Princeton University Press, Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • Glansdorff P, Prigogine I (1971) Thermodinamic theory of structure, stability and fluctuations. Wiley Interscience, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Guha R, Martínez-Alier J (1997) Varieties of environmentalism: essays North and South. Earthscan, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Guha R, Gadgil M (1993) Los hábitats en la historia de la humanidad. Ayer 43:49–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Guzmán Casado G, González de Molina M, Sevilla Guzmán E (2001) Introducción a la agroecología como desarrollo rural sostenible. Mundiprensa, Madrid

    Google Scholar 

  • Hacyan S (2004) Física y metafísica del espacio y el tiempo: la filosofía en el laboratorio. FCE, México

    Google Scholar 

  • Haimovici A, Tagliazucchi E, Balenzuela P, Chialvo DR (2013) Brain organization into resting state networks emerges at criticality on a model of the human connectome. Phys Rev Lett 110:178101

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardin G (1968) The tragedy of the commons. Science 162(3859):1243–1248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hornborg A (2011) A lucid assessment of uneven development as a result of the unequal exchange of time and space. USA: Lund University centre of excellence for integration of social and natural dimensions of sustainability

    Google Scholar 

  • Inglehart R (1977) The Silent revolution: Changing Values and Political Styles among Western Publics. Princeton University Press, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  • Kay JJ, Regier AH, Boyle M, Francis G (1999) An ecosystem approach for sustainability: addressing the challenge for complexity. Futures 31:721–742

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lotka A (1956) Elements of mathematical biology. Dover Publication, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Lotka Alfred (1925) Elements of physical biology. Dover, Nueva York

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovelock J, Bateson G, Margulis L et al (1992) Gaia. Implicaciones de la nueva biología. Kairós, Barcelona

    Google Scholar 

  • Luhmann N (1984) Soziale Systeme: Grundriss einer allgemeine theorie. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt

    Google Scholar 

  • Luhmann N (1986) The Autopoiesis of Social Systems. In Geyer F, Zeuwen JV (eds), Sociocybernetic Paradoxes: Observation, Control and Evolution of Self-Steering Systems. Sage, London, 172–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Luhmann N (1995) Social Systems. Stanford University Press, Stanford

    Google Scholar 

  • Luhmann N (1998) Complejidad y modernidad. De la unidad a la diferencia. Editorial Trotta, España

    Google Scholar 

  • Margalef R (1980) La biosfera. Entre la termodinámica y el juego. Kairós, Barcelona

    Google Scholar 

  • Margalef R (1995) Aplicacions del caos determinsita en ecologia In: Flos J (ed), Ordre i caos en ecologia. Publicacions Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, pp 171–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Marten GG (2001) Human ecology: basic concepts for sustainable development. Earthscan Publications, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Alier J, Munda G, O’Neill J (1998) Weak comparability of values as a foundation for ecological economics. Ecol Econ 26:277–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maturana HR, Varela FJ (1980) Autopoiesis and cognition. the realization of the living. Boston studies in the philosophy and history of science. Reidel Publishing Company, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • Mavrofides T, Kameas A, Papageorgiou D, Los A (2011) On the entropy of social systems: a revision of the concepts of entropy and energy in the social context systems research and behavioral. Science 28:353–368

    Google Scholar 

  • Morin E (1977) El método, I: La naturaleza de la naturaleza. Cátedra, Madrid

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicolis G, Prigogine I (1977) Self-organization in nonequilibrium systems. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Ostrom E (2011) El gobierno de los bienes comunes. FCE, México

    Google Scholar 

  • Pattee HH (1995) Evolving self-reference: matter, symbols, and semantic closure. Commun Cogn Artif Intell 12:9–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Prigogine I (1947) Etude Thermodynamique des Phenomenes Irreversibles. Liège, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Prigogine I (1955) Thermodynamics of irreversible processes and fluctuations. Temperature 2:215–232

    Google Scholar 

  • Prigogine I (1962) Non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. Interscience, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Prigogine I (1987) Exploring complexity. Eur J Oper Res 30:97–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prigogine I (1983) Tan sólo una ilusión? Una exploración del caos al orden. Tusquets, Barcelona

    Google Scholar 

  • Prigogine Y, Stengers I (1979) La nueva alianza. Metamorfosis de la ciencia. Alianza Editorial, Madrid

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramos-Martin J (2003) Empiricism in ecological economics: a perspective from complex systems theory. Ecol Econ 46:387–398

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramos-Martin J (2012) Economía Biofísica. Investigación y Ciencia, pp 68–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosen R (1985) Anticipatory systems: philosophical, mathematical and methodological foundations. Pergamon Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz Ballesteros E (2013) Socioecosistemas y resiliencia socio-ecológica. Una aproximación Compleja al medio ambiente. In: Ruiz Ballesteros E, Solana Ruiz JL (eds) Complejidad y Ciencias Sociales. Sevilla, UNIA, pp 295–331

    Google Scholar 

  • Sahlins M (1960) Evolution and culture. University of Michigan, Michigan

    Google Scholar 

  • Schandl H, Grünbühel CM, Haberl H, Weisz H (2002) Handbook of physical accounting. measuring bio-physical dimensions of socio-economic activities MFA—EFA—HANPP. Social Ecology Working Paper 73, Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  • Schrodinger E (1944) What is Life? The Physical Aspect of the Living Cell. Cambride University Press, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Sieferle RP (2001) The Subterranean Forest. Energy Systems and the Industrial Revolution. The White Horse Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Sieferle RP (2011) Cultural evolution and social metabolism. Hum Geogr 93(4):315–324

    Google Scholar 

  • Slesser M (1978) Energy in the economy. Macmillan, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Steward JH (1955) Theory of culture change: the methodology of multilinear evolution. Illinois University Press, Urbana

    Google Scholar 

  • Soto Fernández D, Herrera, González de Molina A, González de Molina M, Ortega Santos A (2007) La protesta campesina como protesta ambiental, Siglos XVIII-XX. Historia Agraria 42:277–301

    Google Scholar 

  • Swanson GA, Bailey KD, Miller JG (1997) Entropy, social entropy and money: a living systems theory perspective. Syst Res Behav Sci 14(1):45–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tainter JA (2011) Energy, complexity, and sustainability: a historical perspective. Environ Innovation Societal Trans 1:89–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tainter JA (1988) The collapse of complex societies. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Tyrtania L (2008) La indeterminación entrópica Notas sobre disipación de energía, evolución y complejidad. Desacatos 28:41–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Tyrtania L (2009) Evolución y sociedad. Termodinámica de la supervivencia para una sociedad a escala humana. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, México

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulanowicz RE (1986) Growth and development: ecosystem phenomenology. Springer, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wagensberg J (1985) Ideas sobre la complejidad del mundo. Tusquets, Barcelona

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagensberg J (2002) Si la naturaleza es la respuesta, ¿cuál era la pregunta?. Tusquets, Barcelona

    Google Scholar 

  • White L (1964) La ciencia de la cultura. Paidós, Buenos Aires

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiedenhofer D, Rovenskaya E, Haas W et al. (2013) Is there a 1970s syndrome? Analyzing structural breaks in the metabolism of industrial economies. Energy Procedia 40:182–191

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson EO (1971) The insect societies. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson EO (2012) The Social Conquest of the Earth. Liverigth Publishing Co., New York

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geografía, Historia y Filosofía, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain

    Manuel González de Molina

  2. UNAM Campus Morelia, Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico

    Víctor M. Toledo

Authors
  1. Manuel González de Molina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Víctor M. Toledo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Manuel González de Molina .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

González de Molina, M., Toledo, V.M. (2014). A Non-cybernetic Theory of Social Metabolism. In: The Social Metabolism. Environmental History, vol 3. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06358-4_12

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation