Construction of the social healthcare system based on Niklas Luhmann’s Systems Theory

Abstract

A functionally differentiated society is the result of a process of evolution and specialization in communication within the society itself, marked by systems operation through specific functions. The theoretical basis for the discussion in this article is found in the Social Systems Theory developed by Niklas Luhmann, whose theoretical position operates at a high level of complexity. It is precisely for this reason that it leads to disquiet, since it breaks from traditional suppositions within the social sciences. Furthermore, the approach proposed by Luhmann allows us to dig deeper into the possibilities for new theoretical constructs, such as the application of this theory in healthcare systems, However, this is not developed specifically by the author, who considers only medical systems. Thus, one of the central objectives of this reflection is to show the possibility of perceiving healthcare as a functionally differentiated social system.