The Distinction system/environment is the Starting Point for Luhmann’s systems theory. No system is independent of its Environment, since a system is constituted drawing a Boundary through its operations and thereby differentiating itself from what does not belong to it, i.e., its environment. No system can operate Outside of its boundaries [→Operation/Observation]. Without an environment to distinguish it from, no system could be determined. A system is an autonomous domain in which particular conditions apply that escape one-to-one correspondence with the states in the environment [→Autopoiesis].
hierarchic System: It’s hard to conceive of the Antinet as not being a hierarchical system unless you actually experience it yourself (spending time building out your own Antinet and working with it). Until then, it may be helpful to look at hierarchical systems to comprehend the difference. -- Scheper, Antinet Zettelkasten, p. 269.