Continuum

Generally, a relationship between a perceived whole and its parts so that the manifold or complex unity can be characterized as being determined by the proximate nature of all or most of its subordinate members, either spatially, temporally, functionally, or logically. This nearness of the members (of what is essentially a set) may be 'touching' or separated by intervals. Therefore continuity (of substance, identity, etc.) is an inverse function of the ratio of magnitudes of the intervals to adjacent set members (in terms of extension, duration, frequency or other quantities). The surfaces of seas and deserts, for example are continuums (although not homogeneous since they are broken by islands and oases). Emmental cheese, sponges, lace and spider webs are also continuums, also not necessarily homogeneous. The set of real numbers is a mathematical continuum. The identity, continuum is similar and has common features with the identity, unity. As a uniform type is also a type of unity. Speculatively, the human race, the biosphere, and the noospheres are continuums (of which there may be a mathematical treatment: a geometry or topology).