Subsystem

From Geography

Contents 1 Defintion 2 Examples 3 References 4 Contributions

Defintion

The subsystems are a part of Niklas Luhmann's theory of society. Subsystems are the individual components of which a larger system consists. The merging of these components into one overarching system is called system integration. By definition, subsystems can not "step in for, replace or even simply relieve one another" (Luhmann, 1989 in Gren & Zierhofer, 2003). The point about subsystems is that their co-existence makes the bigger picture possible. Each subsystem is a system an sich, but the interaction between two or more of them, makes the systems into a subsystem, a gear wheel in a larger machine.

Subsystems operates on an internal code which is often based on binary distinction. With the binary code it is possible to see the main distinction on which a subssytem works on. Furthermore, a subssystem consists of a program, operation and medium. Programs set the context of the application of the code. Programs open the system to the world and they establish links between the various specialised subsystems. However, programs can change over the time, while codes are quite stable. Both programs and codes sets the possibility of observation of a system.

Operation is the communication process within the sub system. This is the autopoietic process, the ulitmate communication which sets the system. With medium it is meant the way of communication used in an operation within a subssytem. For example in the subssystem Economy, money is the medium of communication within the operation Payment.

Examples

List of more examples of 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 verdicts, 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

References

• Gren, M. & Zierhofer, W. (2003). The unity of difference: a critical appraisal of Niklas Luhmann's theory of social system in the context of corperaity and spatiality. In: Environment & Planning A. Vol. 35. pp. 615-630.

Contributions

• Page created by Meryl Burger
• Page improved by User:BoudewijnIdema, 17 October 2011, 20:37 (UTC)
• Page edited by Frank Simons
• Page enhanced by --HennyLi 18:01, 21 October 2012 (CEST)
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