The systemic approach in sociology -reflections on its development, current status and potential

Abstrakt

This article reflects on the development of the field of system theory- explains its origin, characterizes its history and considers its potential for further utilization. Development in this area is associated with the contributions and ideas of a number of personalities, including H.

Spencer, L. Bertalanffy, N.

Wiener, T. Parsons, N.

Luhmann, and many others. The author describes the dominant ideas applied and considers the perspectives and goals to which this approach could currently be directed.

He concludes that the main task of a systemic approach in sociology should be to analyse systemic processes at the macro-social level, especially those resulting from the specific cumulative effects that lead to certain latent phenomena.

Klíčová slova

• sociological theory
• methodology
• system
• systemic approach
• cybernetics
• structure
• function
• self-reference
• differentiation
• holism
• complexity
• micro/ macro- social reality.