Variety is the possibility of a variable (which can be a system at any level of recursion) to have different values. Variety is the ability to vary. The amount of variety is the number of different options that are possible.
Explanation:
Variety refers to possibility space rather than actual observed states. A variable with three possible values has variety of three, regardless of which value is currently actualized.
Key characteristics:
- Possibility not actuality: Varieties exist as potential states whether or not they're currently realized
- Recursive application: Systems themselves can be variables at any hierarchical level
- Quantification: Variety measured by counting distinguishable possible states
Clarifications:
- Discrete variables: Variety equals number of distinct possible values (coin flip = 2 varieties)
- Continuous variables: Variety determined by distinguishability threshold in analytical context
- Context dependency: What counts as "possible" and "different" depends on analytical purpose and level of analysis. In practice, relevant varieties are evident from the problem context - whether analysing theoretical possibilities, technical feasibility, or immediately accessible options becomes clear from the specific application.