The Systematic Approach in Sociology and Niklas Luhmann: Expectations, Discussions, Doubts

Half Title Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
List of Reviewers
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1-Introduction: Dream or Myth?
Chapter 2-The Dream of a United Conception of Science
	2.1. The Rise of Systems Theory
	2.2. A General Theory of Systems and Related Disciplines
Chapter 3-What Is the Right Starting Point for Sociological Thought?
	3.1. Individualism Versus Holism
	3.2. Holism and Everyday Social Experience
Chapter 4-A Dream of Integration of Theory and Society (Parsons)
	4.1. Talcott Parsons – His Life and Work
	4.2. A General Theory of Action
	4.3. System, Structure, and Function
	4.4. The Four-function Paradigm
	4.5. The Dispute Over Parsons’ Theoretical Legacy
Chapter 5-The Dream of the Sociological Super-theory (Luhmann)
	5.1. Niklas Luhmann – Heretic and Innovator
	5.2. Basic Concepts of Luhmann’s Theory of Social Systems
		5.2.1. System and Environment
		5.2.2. Complexity
		5.2.3. Autopoiesis
		5.2.4. Action and Communication
		5.2.5. Meaning
		5.2.6. Contingency
		5.2.7. Structures of Expectations
		5.2.8. Time and Memory
	5.3. Psychic and Social Systems
		5.3.1. Psychic Systems
		5.3.2. Interaction Systems
		5.3.3. Organisational Systems
		5.3.4. Societal System
	5.4. History with an Open Future
		5.4.1. Evolution
		5.4.2. Variation, Selection, and Stabilisation
		5.4.3. Evolutionary Types of Societies
		5.4.4. Trust and Risk
	5.5. The Problem of Understanding in Contemporary Functionally Differentiated Society
		5.5.1. Habermas’ Alternative
		5.5.2. Communication Media
		5.5.3. Multi-centric World
		5.5.4. Structural Couplings
		5.5.5. Resonance
		5.5.6. Unity and multiplicity
		5.5.7. Supervision (Willke)
		5.5.8. Organised Irresponsibility (Beck)
		5.5.9. Is Evolution Enough?
		5.5.10. Doubts
	5.6. An Attempt at Complex Reflection on Luhmann’s Theoretical Contribution
		5.6.1. Reception
		5.6.2 Contexts, Inspiration, and Criticism
Chapter 6-Reflections on Possibilities of Application of System Approach at Macrosocial Level
	6.1. The Manifest and Latent Effects of Human Action
	6.2. System Processes on the Macrosocial Level
	6.3. Mechanisms of Systems Processes
	6.4. Epilogue
Bibliography
Index