Technosocial autonomy: the synthesis of Gilbert Simondon's processuality and Niklas Luhmann's systems theory

The modern world is undergoing a radical transformation driven by digital technologies, which increasingly exhibit traits of autonomy: algorithms governing social networks, neural networks generating content, or robotic systems making decisions – all of them function according to an internal logic that cannot be reduced to human intentions. This growing independence of technology poses fundamental questions for society: who or what controls the techno-social reality? How can we preserve human agency in a world where technology gains its own "intellect"? In this regard, two approaches – the procedural philosophy of technology by Gilbert Simondon and the systems theory of Niklas Luhmann – remain insufficiently integrated and researched, despite their complementary potential. Simondon emphasizes individuation and transduction, revealing technologies as dynamic processes interwoven with the development of humanity and society. Luhmann, describing technology through the lens of autopoietic, self-referential systems, demonstrates their capacity for self-organization and operational closure. The methodological foundation of the article is comparative analysis and theoretical synthesis. We compare the key concepts of Simondon and Luhmann, identifying points of intersection and contradiction. Digital platforms are examined as examples where the autonomy of algorithms (Luhmann) and their role in shaping user practices (Simondon) are most vividly manifested. The goal of this article is to propose a synthesis of these approaches, bridging the gap between procedural and systemic understanding of techno-social autonomy. We argue that the integration of Simondon's and Luhmann's ideas allows for: 1) explaining how technologies simultaneously evolve through interaction with society (Simondon) and function as closed systems (Luhmann); 2) revealing the dialectic of human and technological agency in the context of digitalization; 3) creating a basis for ethical reflection on autonomous technologies, avoiding the extremes of techno-optimism and determinism. The scientific novelty of the work lies in overcoming disciplinary boundaries: Simondon's philosophical depth enriches Luhmann's structural analysis, while systems theory lends sociological specificity to processuality. This synthesis paves the way for a more holistic understanding of techno-social reality not as a confrontation between humans and machines, but as a complex symbiosis, where the autonomy of technology becomes both a condition and a challenge for a new stage of social evolution.

technosocial, technology, systems theory, autonomy, autopoiesis, self-organization, individuation, concretization, transindividual, transduction