Subsystem

From Geography

The subsystems are a part of Niklas Luhmann's theory of society. This theory holds that the society is divided by functionally specialised subsystems. These subsystems cannot be replaced by the other subsystems and they exist seperated from eachother. Each of them have their own properties. They are caracterised by codes, programs, the way of operating and de medium which are used in the subsystem.

Examples for subsystems are:

- Economy

code: Having money / not having money

program: supply and demand

operation: payment

medium: money, securities

- Law

code: right/wrong

program: laws, decrees, practice of verdiets, contracts

operation: sentence, related to cases

medium: text of law and contracts, interpretations

- Politics

code: governement/ oppositions majority/minority

program: program for legislation party program

operations: decisions, votes, declarations

medium: authority, legitimation, generalised approval, trust, forms of power

- Religion

code: immanence/ transcendence

program: myths, commandments

operations: creed, confession

medium: rites, prayers, oral traditions, sacred texts.

- Science

code: true/false

program: notions, theories, methodologies

operations: proof or falsification of statements

medium: publications, presentations

- Education

code: satisfactory/ unsatisfactory

program: training, professions, curriculum

operations: assessment, exam

medium: qualifications, marks, diplomas, degrees, titles

Bronnen

• Gren, M., Zierhofer, W., The unity of difference: a critical appraisal of Niklas Luhmann's theory of social systems in the context of corporeality and spatiality, (University of Basel, 2002)