ABSTRACT
In Chapter 3, we described how modern society – according to sociological systems theory – is differentiated into a number of function systems: economics, politics, law, science, religion, and many more. Each one of them contributes to solving a specific societal problem (for example managing a scarcity of resources [economy]; making collectively binding decisions [politics]; stabilising contradictory expectations [law]; discovery and supply of true and reliable knowledge [science]; provision of meaning and explanations of the unexplainable [religion]; etc.). The function systems follow a unique, function-specific rationality: the rationality of the economy is profit and competition; power is the rationality of politics; legality is the rationality of law; pursuit of objectivity and truth are the rationalities of science. In contrast to stratified societies, a functionally differentiated society has no centre or apex or moral authority that can represent and bind everyone. There is no overarching rationality that transgresses every function system, and there is no common denominator that unites all of them. Instead, there is “only” a set of function systems that operate in their very own system-specific way. As we will see in Chapter 6 this condition gives rise to modern social problems.
