Postparsonsovské teorie sociálních systémů

This book focuses on approaches to the system theory developing within modern sociology. Ideas about social systems developed in several stages in the history of sociological thought. The beginnings are closely linked to the concept of social organism (H. Spencer) and the paradigm of part and whole (E. Durkheim). In the next stage, Talcott Parsons stressed as the key concept the difference of a system and its environment. A considerable shift was achieved thanks to Niklas Luhmann's concept of autopoietic systems. Current post-Parsons theories of social systems seek inspiration in the theory of complexity and chaos, in the field of new media, communication networks and modern technologies.