  The current social reality is characterized by all-encompassing change, which
disrupts existing social structures at all levels. Yet the prevailing view of
society is based on the ontological primacy of stable hierarchical structures,
which is no longer adequate.
  We propose a conceptual framework for thinking about a dynamically changing
social system: the Living Cognitive Society. Importantly, we show how it
follows from a much broader philosophical framework, guided by the theory of
individuation, which emphasizes the importance of relationships and interactive
processes in the evolution of a system.
  The framework addresses society as a living cognitive system -- an ecology of
interacting social subsystems -- each of which is also a living cognitive
system. We argue that this approach can help us to conceive sustainable social
systems that will thrive in the circumstances of accelerating change. The
Living Cognitive Society is explained in terms of its fluid structure, dynamics
and the mechanisms at work. We then discuss the disruptive effects of
Information and Communication Technologies on the mechanisms at work.
  We conclude by delineating a major topic for future research -- distributed
social governance -- which focuses on processes of coordination rather than on
stable structures within global society.
