Stephen Watson - Mathematics education as a social system: a Laws of Form perspective

In this presentation I will describe my research into mathematics education that draws on Laws of Form in two ways. Firstly by considering mathematics education as a social system as informed by the systems theory approach of Niklas Luhmann, which in turn draws on George Spencer Brown's approach to distinction or 'difference in unity' and recursion/ self-referentiality but in the context of educational social systems. Secondly, by considering mathematics and mathematics education, philosophically, from a historical sociological perspective, and from a critical consideration that employs Spencer Brown's Laws of Form, I argue provides a new and alternative perspective on mathematics education – a general theory of mathematics education based on a general theory of difference and recursion. A self-referential and recursive general theory of mathematics education meets the condition of being a general theory as I will show, as it presents itself as a theory of itself, but not as a grand representational theory but as one that considers how meaning is made in the context of mathematics and mathematics education.

My overall aim is to articulate a non-normative theory of education and society drawing on the traditions of sociocybernetics and social systems theory.

More info: https://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/people/staff/watson/

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