The culturally embedded algedonics of society: The drivers and controls of integrating culture

The culturally embedded Algedonics of Society suggest a conceptual model for the study of social systems based on latter finding from the field of neurosciences, esp. Daniel Kahneman, and the works of Niklas Luhmann. Kahneman et al. argue that the brain processes in a fast and a slow processing mode. Cognition processes information slowly in a complex way of meaning creation and sense making. The fast system is based on the algedonics of pleasure and pain. Luhmann argues that for social systems we see the divide of politics and economy along the very sanction mechanisms of positive reward in the economy and negative reward in politics. The economy demands investment for yields, politics demand loyalty to regulations based on the monopoly of physical power. In this perspective the economy and politics resemble the algedonics mechanism of a fast system. All other societal sub systems like religion, science, arts and many more seem to resemble the cognitive mechanisms of the slow system of meaning creation and sense making. In this we may want to refer to the slow processing system of society as culture. There are two major implications. First, economy shall be based on positive sanction mechanisms. If this is not the case like in plan economy, socialism and capitalism as we have seen it in the past, it fails. Politics shall be based on negative sanction mechanisms. If political favour is based on positive sanction, like in democratism, the political systems is converted in a political actor which has a tendency for bankruptcy. Second, cultural studies have a chance to revise societal meaning creation and sense making and challenge the criteria and mechanisms of the ruling cultural systems. It is suggested to introduce, following Garry Marcus, functional sufficiency as the primary criterion in contrast to truth, believe, aesthetics and others. Critical narrative inquiry then opens access for cultural exploration and social design impact evaluation.