Talcott Parsons

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The American sociologist Talcott Parsons (1902 - 1979) is still known today for his contributions to sociological theory, especially by the General Theory of Action Systems and the AGIL Scheme he proposed to arrive at a general understanding of social action and institutionalization that either orient social action and that is also a consequence of social action.

Parson's thought is strongly inspired by systems theory and cybernetics, and fundamental in bridging theory development on organized social action from earlier foundational sociologists such as Max Weber and Émile Durkheim towards later social action systems theory by, for exemple, Niklas Luhmann, Jürgen Habermas, Robert Merton, Martin Albrow, and Gangolf Peters.

Parsons' thought connects people and their personalities to the domain of organized social action, and places the the latter explicitly in a social and cultural context. These realms are connected and develop in conjunction through symbolized language and symbols, reinforcing the orientation of behavior and action to socially relevant values and beliefs.

Parsons' theory is linked with a living systems view, although he does not reduce organizations and people to merely living or autopoietic systems.

As in sociological thought of Max Weber, Durkheim and and others, social, cultural and semiotic conditions shape role expectations towards which people in Action Systems orient their behavior. Behavior that is consistent with role expectations is usually compensated as a reward for consistent or compliant behavior.

Role expectations are established, confirmed, developed and changed by and in the social, cultural and value systems. In my view, these iterations of role generation, confirmation and development can be understood as social cyles that characterize and maintain the social action system. It is in this respect that expectations-based understanding of social action displays cycles.

Cycles are deemed an essential element of 'systemness' in Systems Theory. This observation provides one more argument to consider Social Systems Theory as a theory within the realm of system sciences.

Furthermore, from Parson's thought on the institutionalization of social action, of which science and scientific paradigm construction are both beneficial and subjected to, one can also come to the conclusion that Social Systems Theory cannot be reduced to physical qualities and processes of systems. This goes specifically for cognitive processes (language, knowledge, semiotics) that cannot be detached from meaning, social orientation and the impact of higher order belief and value systems.