Editing Talcott Parsons (section)

===Subscriber to systems theory===
Parsons was an early subscriber to systems theory. He had early been fascinated by the writings of [[Walter B. Cannon]] and his concept of [[homeostasis]]<ref>Walter B. Cannon, ''The Wisdom of the Body.'' New York: Norton, 1932.</ref> as well as the writings of French physiologist [[Claude Bernard]].<ref>Claude Bernard, ''An Introduction to the Study of Experimental Medicine.'' New York: Dover, 1957. First published in French in 1865.</ref> His interest in systems theory had been further stimulated by his contract with L.J. Henderson. Parsons called the concept of "system" for an indispensable master concept in the work of building theoretical paradigms for social sciences.<ref>Talcott Parsons, "The Present Status of "Structural-Functional" Theory in Sociology." In Talcott Parsons, ''Social Systems and the Evolution of Action Theory.'' New York: The Free Press, 1977. p. 101.</ref> From 1952 to 1957, Parsons participated in an ongoing Conference on System Theory under the chairmanship of [[Roy R. Grinker, Sr.]], in Chicago.

Parsons came into contact with several prominent intellectuals of the time and was particularly impressed by the ideas of social insect biologist [[Alfred Emerson]]. Parsons was especially compelled by Emerson's idea that, in the sociocultural world, the functional equivalent of the gene was that of the "symbol". Parsons also participated in two of the meetings of the famous [[Macy Conferences]] on systems theory and on issues that are now classified as [[cognitive science]], which took place in New York from 1946 to 1953 and included scientists like [[John von Neumann]]. Parsons read widely on systems theory at the time, especially works of [[Norbert Wiener]]<ref>Norbert Wiener, ''Cybernetics: Or the Control and Communication in Man and the Machine.''Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 1948.</ref> and [[William Ross Ashby]],<ref>W.R. Ashby, ''Design for a Brain.'' Chapman & Hall, 1952.</ref> who were also among the core participants in the conferences. Around the same time, Parsons also benefited from conversations with political scientist [[Karl Deutsch]] on systems theory. In one conference, the Fourth Conference of the problems of [[consciousness]] in March 1953 at Princeton and sponsored by the Macy Foundation, Parsons would give a presentation on "Conscious and Symbolic Processes" and embark on an intensive group discussion which included exchange with child psychologist [[Jean Piaget]].<ref>Harold A. Abramson (ed.) ''Problems of Consciousness: Transactions of the Fourth Conference, March 29,30 and 31, 1953, Princeton, NJ.'' New York: Corlies, Macy & Company, Inc, 1954.</ref>

Among the other participants were Mary A.B. Brazier, [[Frieda Fromm-Reichmann]], [[Nathaniel Kleitman]], [[Margaret Mead]] and [[Gregory Zilboorg]]. Parsons would defend the thesis that [[consciousness]] is essentially a social action phenomenon, not primarily a "biological" one. During the conference, Parsons criticized Piaget for not sufficiently separating cultural factors from a physiologistic concept of "energy".