Environments: Observed With Social Systems Theory. An Introduction

This article examines the concept of environments through the lens of social systems theory in the tradition of Niklas Luhmann, emphasising the inherent plurality and complexity of environments as observed by various systems. Rejecting the reductionist view of ‘the environment’ as a singular, universal entity, our discussion highlights the necessity of recognising environments as concepts shaped by the operations of a multitude of individual systems. Through the diverse case studies and theoretical insights united in this special issue on Environments: Observed with social systems theory, our article underscores the value of systems theory in addressing the multifaceted nature of environments, extending its application to social scientific, economic, political, religious and other functional contexts. This functionally augmented perspective on environments is shown to warrant sceptical attitudes to dominant forms of ‘ecological communication’ as well as further research in the systemic limitations of prevailing environmental concepts, particularly their overidentification with the natural sciences. The article concludes with a call for the development of practical toolkits for observing and managing environmental pluralism, enabling systems to navigate a broader scope of environmental complexities while maintaining a coherent focus.