Abstract:

Niklas Luhmann's social systems theory contains an implicit orientation toward a sociological enlightenment aimed at observing and describing functionally differentiated society through the theories and methods of sociology. This paper, taking Luhmann's 1967 Inaugural Lecture(Soziologische Aufklärung) as its guiding thread, systematically examines his program of sociological enlightenment. The importance of this manuscript lies in its establishment of the tone and direction for Luhmann's later development of social systems theory. It marks not only his declaration of a shift from empirical research to theoretical exploration but also provides a key to understanding his social systems theory. Firstly, the 1967 Inaugural Lecture outlines Luhmann's exploration of replacing subject-oriented rationality with system-oriented rationality in sociological enlightenment. It serves not only as a "manifesto" for social systems theory but also demonstrates Luhmann's ambition to construct a grand theory of society based on social systems. Secondly, to overcome the limitations of traditional functionalist systems theory, Luhmann transforms Parsons' structure-function system theory by employing a functional-structural system model. Epistemologically, this shift replaces the whole/part system paradigm with the system/environment paradigm, addressing the issue of societal complexity as a theoretical concern. Methodologically, it seeks to maximize the abstract potential of different system categories and extends system comparison to encompass as diverse a range of systems as possible. This paradigm seeks a new starting point for sociological self-understanding. Finally, the theoretical ambition of sociological enlightenment is not only a reflection on practical relevance but also a comprehensive theoretical reflection on social systems, which demands that social theory possesses the capacity for interdisciplinary connections and the ability to reflect on the theories of other functional areas in society. This provides an alternative perspective for understanding functionally differentiated societies and the positioning of sociological theory.

Key words: Niklas Luhmann, social system, sociological enlightenment, reduction of complexity