Introduction to Systems Theory

Niklas Luhmann (1927-1998) ranks as one of the most important sociologists and social theorists of the 20th century. From 1968 to 1992 he taught at the University of Bielefeld as a professor of sociology. In recent years, Luhmann‘s systems theory has gained resonance in a wide variety of disciplines. Introduction to Systems Theory is Luhmann at the height of his powers. He offers precise conceptual analyses and a wealth of examples to clarify the theoretical foundations of general and sociological systems theory. This book is a rich source of ideas that can be applied to a variety of complex questions. It offers a wide range of concepts and theorems that pertain equally to politics and the economy, religion and science, art and education, the family and personal life. Moreover, Luhmann‘s ideas address important contemporary issues in such diverse fields as cognitive science, ecology, and the study of social movements. Luhmann‘s Introduction to Systems Theory provides all the necessary resources for students to work through the foundations of systems theory. Along the way, it also shows that it may well be among the most important resources of serious theoretical work in the social sciences today. This is the most accessible of Luhmann‘s books and it will establish itself as the key text for anyone who wishes to understand systems theory and its uses today.