What is Luhmann's theory of social systems?
My theory posits that social systems are fundamentally communication systems. They are autopoietic, meaning they generate and reproduce themselves from their own elements, which are communications. These systems are operationally closed, meaning they can only observe and react to their own internal states and communications, not directly to the environment. The differentiation of society into functional systems like economy, law, and science is a key aspect.
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