Central and East European
Society for Phenomenology

Repository | Book | Chapter

216085

Membership and Motives in Social Systems

Niklas Luhmann

pp. 467-478

Abstract

"Classical theory describes (and prescribes) organizations as systems that have the capacity of making rational decisions. They pursue objectives and are in control of their instruments. […] Control of instruments means control of motives to contribute to the organization. But how is it possible to control motives if humans are conceived as subjects, that is, as self-organizing entities? The answer is: by membership. Subjects decide to enter the system, to use their freedom to accept constraints, that is, to establish a "zone of indifference" within which the organization or the "executive" on its behalf can select what he wants to be done."

Publication details

Published in:

Luhmann Niklas (2019) Schriften zur Organisation 2: Theorie organisierter Sozialsysteme. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 467-478

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-658-23210-8_18

Full citation:

Luhmann Niklas (2019) Membership and Motives in Social Systems, In: Schriften zur Organisation 2, Dordrecht, Springer, 467–478.