FUNCTION AND SOCIETY - CONTINUING PROBLEMS DESPITE PARADIGMATIC CHANGE IN THE SYSTEM-THEORY OF LUHMANN,NIKLAS

The autopoietic paradigmatic change in system theory has received considerable attention in the sociological literature. As a result the constant problems and questions of system theory have been forgotten. Luhmann continues to stand in the tradition of functionalism. This article puts the problems connected with the pair of terms ''function'' and ''society'' in Luhmann's theory at the center of attention. Is he able to offer an analytically useful conception of society? This question is important for the whole of the topic of functional differentiation. But neither in his early nor in his later works does Luhmann present a clear analytical conception of the term ''society''. As a result, what functional differentiation means remains vague and open: in relation to which unity do the partial systems fulfill their function? Of what are they a part? No way leads either from the system of society to the partial systems or from the partial systems to the system of society. Wherever Luhmann can say something definite and concrete about functional relations, he falls back on ideas of action theory In doing this the terms functional systems and system of society lose their meaning.