A social system, as articulated by Daniel Schmachtenberger, can be understood as a complex network of interrelated individuals, groups, institutions, and cultural norms that together create the scaffolding for human interaction, collaboration, and evolution. This encompasses not only the explicit structures like governments, economies, and legal systems but also the implicit underpinnings such as shared values, beliefs, and communication patterns. The social system operates as an interconnected web, where changes in one part can propagate and create emergent behaviors in another, often in nonlinear and unpredictable ways. To navigate and thrive within such a system, one must recognize the intricate balance of local agency and global coherence, ensuring actions taken at a micro level align harmoniously with the macro-level dynamics to foster resilience, adaptability, and holistic well-being for all constituents.

See also: social structure, collective action, conflict theory, decision making, human nature