ABSTRACT
In The Social System Parsons writes: The problem of order and thus the nature of integration of stable systems of social interaction, that is of social structure, thus focuses on the integration of the motivation of actors with the normative cultural standards which integrate the action system, in our context, interpersonally. The orientation of one actor to the contingent action of another inherently involves evaluative orientation because the element of contingency implies the relevance of a system of alternatives. It is important to notice that ideal types of action and of social relations are by no means confined to those which are built upon rationality. Now Parsons clearly does not take social order or the structural complementarily of role-expectations for granted. He always assumes that social interaction is 'doubly contingent' and that a problem of order is posed by the existence of alternatives which are available to the actors.
