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The Ethics of Functional Differentiation: Reclaiming Morality in Niklas Luhmann’s Social Systems Theory

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  • Vladislav Valentinov

    (Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies)

Abstract

Niklas Luhmann held a skeptical view of the role of morality in the modern society. The present paper reassesses this skepticism in view of his early work showing the regime of functional differentiation to be supported by fundamental human rights. Building on this argument, the paper advocates a more positive view of morality which is shown to be related to the sustainability of social systems in their encompassing societal and natural environment. This view is warranted by the overarching Luhmannian theme of the precariousness of system–environment relations. If this view is accepted, Luhmann’s work on fundamental human rights can be read as an illustration of moral problems caused by the overexpansion tendencies of the political system. This argument is shown to connect up with the ideas of Buchanan and Rawls, as well as to fit in with the Luhmannian construct of the dilemma of structure and function.

Suggested Citation

  • Vladislav Valentinov, 2019. "The Ethics of Functional Differentiation: Reclaiming Morality in Niklas Luhmann’s Social Systems Theory," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(1), pages 105-114, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:155:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-017-3521-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-017-3521-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Steffen Roth, 2013. "Common values? Fifty-two cases of value semantics copying on corporate websites," Post-Print hal-01053523, HAL.
    2. Vladislav Valentinov & Stefan Hielscher & Ingo Pies, 2016. "Emergence: A Systems Theory’s Challenge to Ethics," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 29(6), pages 597-610, December.
    3. Steffen Roth, 2014. "The things that go without saying. On performative differences between business value communication and communication on business values," Post-Print hal-01053515, HAL.
    4. Steffen Roth, 2014. "The things that go without saying: on performative differences between business value communication and communication on business values," International Journal of Business Performance Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 15(3), pages 175-191.
    5. Steffen Roth, 2015. "Free Economy! On 3628800 Alternatives of and to Capitalism," Journal of Interdisciplinary Economics, , vol. 27(2), pages 107-128, July.
    6. Victoria Groddeck, 2011. "Rethinking the Role of Value Communication in Business Corporations from a Sociological Perspective – Why Organisations Need Value-Based Semantics to Cope with Societal and Organisational Fuzziness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 100(1), pages 69-84, April.
    7. Spencer Thompson & Vladislav Valentinov, 2017. "The neglect of society in the theory of the firm: a systems-theory perspective," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 41(4), pages 1061-1085.
    8. Vladislav Valentinov & Lioudmila Chatalova, 2016. "Institutional Economics and Social Dilemmas: a Systems Theory Perspective," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(1), pages 138-149, January.
    9. Vladislav Valentinov, 2015. "Kenneth Boulding's Theories of Evolutionary Economics and Organizational Change: A Reconstruction," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(1), pages 71-88, January.
    10. Hielscher, Stefan & Pies, Ingo & Valentinov, Vladislav & Chatalova, Lioudmila, 2016. "Rationalizing the GMO debate: The ordonomic approach to addressing agricultural myths," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 13(5), pages 1-10.
    11. Roth, Steffen, 2015. "Free economy! On 3628800 alternatives of and to capitalism," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 27(2), pages 107-128.
    12. Valentinov, Vladislav, 2015. "From equilibrium to autopoiesis: A Luhmannian reading of Veblenian evolutionary economics," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 143-155.
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    Cited by:

    1. Thangatur Sukumar Hariharan & L. S. Ganesh & Vijayalakshmi Venkatraman & Piyush Sharma & Vidyasagar Potdar, 2022. "Morphological Analysis of general system–environment complexes: Representation and application," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(2), pages 218-240, March.
    2. Kristof Van Assche & Monica Gruezmacher & Raoul Beunen, 2022. "Why Governance Is Never Perfect: Co-Evolution in Environmental Policy and Governance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-7, August.
    3. Shadnam, Masoud, 2020. "Choosing whom to be: Theorizing the scene of moral reflexivity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 12-23.
    4. de Olde, Evelien M. & Valentinov, Vladislav, 2019. "The moral complexity of agriculture: A challenge for corporate social responsibility," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 32(3), pages 413-430.

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