Systems Differentiation - the Risk Potential of Contemporary Society

Abstract

This paper is based on the ideas of systems theory as formulated by Niklas Luhmann. Luhmann’s analysis presents contemporary society as a whole differentiated into functionally dependent yet autonomous sub-systems that constitute neighbouring worlds for each other.

In Luhmann’s view the main problem is the non-existence of means of “metacommunication”.

Keywords

• Systems
• Differentiation
• the
• Risk
• Potential
• Contemporary
• Society