BCSSS

International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics

2nd Edition, as published by Charles François 2004 Presented by the Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science Vienna for public access.

About

The International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics was first edited and published by the system scientist Charles François in 1997. The online version that is provided here was based on the 2nd edition in 2004. It was uploaded and gifted to the center by ASC president Michael Lissack in 2019; the BCSSS purchased the rights for the re-publication of this volume in 200?. In 2018, the original editor expressed his wish to pass on the stewardship over the maintenance and further development of the encyclopedia to the Bertalanffy Center. In the future, the BCSSS seeks to further develop the encyclopedia by open collaboration within the systems sciences. Until the center has found and been able to implement an adequate technical solution for this, the static website is made accessible for the benefit of public scholarship and education.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

DIVERSITY 1)2)

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The presence of different types of elements in a system, or of systems in an environment.

This is a quasi-synonym for heterogeneity, or in a slightly different sense, for variety. Diversity is a condition for "check-and-balance" and helps to maintain dynamic stability. As noted by J.T. BONNER it can be viewed as a measure of complexity (1988, p.101). Man is presently suppressing much natural diversity and is thus engaged unconsciously in a possibly dangerous experience. It is however for the moment impossible to judge the possible results of the artificial diversity he is introducing through, for example, genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, etc…, all of which can be considered as disturbances, in a very general sense.

A wider definition refers to the presence of numerous different types of elements in some extension of space.

Diversity results basically from the slowing down and more complete use of the potential of energy flows. This is obvious in the meandrous circulation of energy in ecosystems (A. LOTKA's world engine). It may however even be the case in cosmic, stellar and planetary diversification. LAVILLE's subdividing vortexes and STULMAN's fields within fields are related subjects.

A cybernetic theory of diversity has been constructed by W. Ross ASHBY, under the name of variety.

An important degree of diversity is a basic condition for dynamic stability in ecosystems. Thus the present massive elimination of many kinds of natural animal and vegetal species by man is probably conducive to a greater general instability of all ecosystems.

C. WILLS writes: "Safety lies in diversity, and evolution should increase this diversity" (1996, p.41)

Range of diversity

J. WARFIELD uses the concept of diversity in his "Interpretive Structural Modeling" and in his "Generic Design" methodology to measure the range of diversity of beliefs and ideas in any group participating in ISM or GD.

He uses a scale from 1 to 10 to measure the degree of agreement or disagreement among participants on evaluations and ideas. A diversity range of more than 5,0 is quite frequent and shows that disagreement is more common than consensus. This knowledge is important to avoid underconceptualization by a superficial assessment of situations and opinions.

Categories

  • 1) General information
  • 2) Methodology or model
  • 3) Epistemology, ontology and semantics
  • 4) Human sciences
  • 5) Discipline oriented

Publisher

Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science(2020).

To cite this page, please use the following information:

Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science (2020). Title of the entry. In Charles François (Ed.), International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics (2). Retrieved from www.systemspedia.org/[full/url]

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