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Beyond system internals: expanding the scope of Living Systems Theory
Author(s) -
Bailey Kenneth D.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
systems research and behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 1092-7026
DOI - 10.1002/sres.659
Subject(s) - social system , systems theory , sociology , spell , living systems , epistemology , law and economics , computer science , social science , philosophy , artificial intelligence , anthropology
Social systems theory has long focused primarily on the internal relations of systems. There was initially very good reason for this, as it was necessary to spell out the inner workings of a social system in detail in order to understand it. Now, however, as noted by Luhmann, it is time to move beyond internals, to an analysis of system‐external relations. Miller's Living Systems Theory is used to illustrate the early emphasis not only on system internals, but on vertical relations as well. The next logical (and sorely needed) step is to analyze simultaneously not only internal links within a given social system, but also external links between two or more systems. The basic typology for this endeavor is a fourfold model of links: (1) internal–vertical; (2) internal–horizontal; (3) external–horizontal; and (4) external–vertical. The four types of links are listed in the order that they have been previously recognized. Thus, while internal–vertical links were recognized in the part–whole analysis of classical functionalism, external–vertical links remain virtually invisible in social systems theory. The increasing number and rapidity of interactions between social systems, particularly electronic information and money flows, assure that social systems theorists cannot continue to neglect such links if they wish to claim contemporary relevance for their work. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.