Luhmann and Systems Overview v 1.0

Society is broken down into a variety of subsystems. Each of these subsystems is functionally differentiated from other systems. The other subsystems represent the environment for each subsystem. Each subsystem is internally autopoietic. They reproduce themselves through the production of communication that adjudicates what is being transmitted through a binary code filter. This code is different for each subsystem. Subsystems are also structurally coupled with one another, though they are not directly connected. Structural coupling indicates that one subsystem can irritate another subsystem. While everything is an open system, the interaction between different subsystems is not fluid, as they operate on different code communications.

Social systems are not the only aspect of the global system. There are also biological systems and psychic systems. Biological systems are autopoietic as well: if the aspects of a cell's system do not continually reproduce the cell, the cell is no longer a living system. Psychic systems are also concerned about reproducing themselves, and do this through thought and consciousness. Biological systems and psychic systems interact, as can be seen in a healthy human. Biological systems must burn or itch to get the attention of psychic systems. Psychic systems are reliant on biological systems for sustenance.

Biological, psychic and social systems all interact. In organizations, this takes place in very complicated ways. These organizations can contain aspects of various social systems within them. This makes analysis of the interaction between different systems (biological, psychic and social as well as different subsystems within social systems) quite complex.

The state is one form of organization that contains multiple forms of biological, psychic and social systems operating in conjunction with one another. These subsystems are not confined to any particular state. Subsystems that are functionally differentiated can be seen at a global level, though they manifest themselves differently within national contexts. For example, economic subsystems within a certain nation-state, while taking place within the global economic subsystem, differentiated on the binary payment/non-payment, will be structurally coupled with other national subsystems in unique ways.

Systems cease to exist when the process of autopoiesis ends. This occurs when the code produced within the system through communication ends. This is only possible through massive historic paradigm shifts (think move from pre-modern to modern).