systems theory lecture 5

8/4/2019 Systems Theory Lecture 5

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Lecture Notes on Systems TheoryPart 5

V. Social Systems and their Environments, Codes and Operations

Niklas Luhmann likened social systems to cybernetic- information processingsystems that follows a binary coding (just like, for instance, computer languagesthat follows binary code of 0 and 1). Each social system, or social institutions, has aparticular code that it uses to observe its environment, and to act on it (operation).Environment (human beings) according to Luhmanns systems theory does notcondition or influence these social systems/institutions in the same way that ournatural environment affects our everyday life. Systems continuously produce andreproduce the events that it acts upon (autopoiesis). The environment can onlyprovide irritation that would trigger the systems to act. The process is quiteparadoxical again because social systems give output that the environmentreceives only for the system to act and operate again upon the given output.(Magbibigay ako ng listahan ng examples para hindi nakakalito.) In this sense, thesystem is both independent (can operate autonomously by itself) and dependent(relies on the existence of its environment to distinguish itself as a distinct system).

Social institutions can be seen as systems of distinction. It distinguishes thethings it sees in the environment according to its code and acts on it according tothe specific operation it performs. Here is a list of social systems/institutions, codes,functions and media.

Religion (system) Lay followers (environment)

Medium Faith (belief in faith)

Code Transcendence/Immanence (transcendence is being beyond thelimitations of the world; immanence is what is limited within the world) ultimatequestions in life deserve transcendent answers that religion provides

Function elimination of contingency: provides overall framework whereone can see ones place in the universal order of things and the idea that there IS adefinite order and a higher purpose that guides our lives. Sa ganitong context, kahitang mga bagay na hindi natin usually tinitignang religious ay nagiging religion tuladhalimbawa ng art (music is my religion), lovelife (ikaw ang nagbigay kahulugansa buhay ko) o political ideology (Marxism as secular religion, as some would say).

Operation spiritual services; formation of moral conscience; interpets holyscriptures

Family (system) Members/relatives (environment)

Medium Love (love for loves sake; loving the idea of falling in love;unconditional love)

Code (these are just my derivations) personal/impersonal; relative/stranger

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Operation and Function regulate sexual behavior; establish kinships

Politics (system) Politicians and Citizens (environment)

Medium Power (the use of power to gain and control power)

Code government/opposition

Operation and Function to produce collectively binding decisions (hindi ibigsabihin nito ay pagbubuo ng consensus; ang bawat decision kasi na ginagawa ngmga government o state officials ay decisions on our behalf; legally bound tayo nasundin ang mga policies na ipinatupad ng mga iniluklok natin sa pwesto kayacollectively binding)

Economy (system) Producers and Consumers, Buyers and Sellers(environment)

Medium Money (money can buy money; money can buy things that can besold again in exchange for money)

Code payment/non-payment (dito pumapasok yung binanggit ko datingsystem of payments; ibig sabihin sa modernong ekonomiya ang mga economictransaction ay hinuhusgahan batay sa kung mae-enable ba tayo nitong magkaron oma-enhance ang payment capacity natin)

Operation and Function regulates production and exchange in the market

Mass Media (system) Public/Audience (environment)

Medium New-s (news based on previous news; reports on previousreports)

Code Information/Non-information (sabi ni Luhmann information is adifference that makes a difference ibig sabihin nagiging information lamang angisang bagay kung ito ay iba sa ibang information na alam na natin; kaya naman samedia mahalaga parati na fresh at exclusive ang mga information)

Operation and Function observes observations in the sense of reportinghow institutions, for instance the economy, observes market trends; providingentertainment and serves as vehicles of advertisement (advertisement mula sapublic agencies tulad ng announcement ng water interruption o announcement nglibreng medical services, o mula sa private sectorcommercials)

Iba pang Institutions/Social systems

Education (system) Academes/students (environment)

Medium Learning (learning how to learn properly and productively)



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Code Competent/Incompetent (competent in terms of knowledge and skillsthat are taught by teachers and learned by students)

Operation and Function prepares the environment (human beings) for theirfunctions in the institutions

Science (system) Scientists/Researcher (environment)

Medium Truth (establishing new truths that dispel old truths)

Code True/False (qualifying the truth value and falsehood of claims)

Operation and Function provison of theories and research methods thatother fields can use and apply; theorizing about theories; re-searching aboutresearch findings


systems theory lecture 5

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