Stufenbau
Stufenbau (from Stufe “step” and Bau “construction”) designates a model of organization in which elements are arranged in discrete levels or stages. Each level constitutes a higher-order, more complex or more inclusive arrangement than the one below, and the creation or validity of higher levels depends on the existence of the lower levels. Movement between levels is usually governed by specified criteria, and the levels together form a structure that is intended to be relatively stable over time.
Stufenbau is used in several disciplines. In legal theory, the term Stufenbau der Rechtsordnung describes the
Critics note that strict stufenbau models can oversimplify complex systems, ignore cross-level influences, and privilege a
Examples include the stratification of legal norms (hierarchy), theories of moral or cognitive development (stage-like growth),