Autonomy of social(sub) systems

From Geography

“Psychic and social subsystems, unlike machines and organisms, can be characterized by their use of meaning”(Luhmann, 1995, p. 3), they cannot exist without organisms and other material systems. At this level of analysis each type of system is autonomous. An organism is not a part of a psychic system, and a social system does not consist of psychic systems. Because these kinds of systems are perationally closed, they exist only as environments for each other. As a result of Luhmann’s specific sociological concerns, social systems are differentiated into interactions, organisations and societies.

By Mike van der Linden and Paul Cuijpers

Gren, M & Zierhofer, W. (2003) Environment and planning Great Britain: Pion publication

Luhmann, N. (1995) Social systems Standford: Standford university press