The expectations, discussions, doubts Šubrt, Jiří creator author. text bibliography enk 2020 monographic eng 1 online resource (144 pages) ; cm This book is a comprehensive overview of the theoretical discussion of one of most important conceptions in sociology at the end of 20th century - the theory of social systems. The spotlight of this book falls on the work of Niklas Luhmann and his holistic approach. Current modern society is, for Luhmann, a functionally differentiated society, which means that a number of specialized societal sub-systems (politics, economics, religion, law, science, art etc) have formed. Each system is based on its own type of communication led by its own generalized communicative media. Luhmann controversially depicts modern society as a plurality of many societal subsystems operating without a top and without a coordinating and managing centre. This book weighs the strong and weak features of the systemic approach in sociology and discusses ways to rethink it. Chapter 1. Dream or myth? (introduction) -- Chapter 2. The dream of a united conception of science -- Chapter 3. What is the right starting point for sociological thought? -- Chapter 4. A dream of integration of theory and society (Parsons) -- Chapter 5. The dream of the sociological super-theory (Luhmann) -- Chapter 6. Reflections on possibilities of application of system approach at macrosocial level. Jiří Šubrt (Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic). Includes index. Includes bibliographical references. Social systems Philosophy System theory Philosophy Parsons, Talcott 1902-1979 Social Science General Social groups HM701 .S83 2020 316.35 9781839090318 9781839090295 https://doi.org/10.1108/9781839090295 https://doi.org/10.1108/9781839090295 UtOrBLW 200518 20251029120118.0 9781839090318 eng