7.2 Set-based topoi and finite topoi

2 min readโ€ขjuly 25, 2024

Set-based topoi form the foundation of . They include familiar categories like sets, categories, and presheaf categories. These examples showcase how topoi generalize set-theoretic concepts to broader mathematical structures.

Finite topoi, with limited objects and morphisms, offer simplified versions of topos structures. They maintain key properties like completeness and cocompleteness, while their subobject classifiers constrain . This connects topos theory to group representations and finite structures.

Set-Based Topoi

Examples of set-based topoi

Top images from around the web for Examples of set-based topoi
Top images from around the web for Examples of set-based topoi
  • of sets (Set) forms fundamental example objects are sets morphisms represent functions between sets
  • Functor categories SetCSet^C where C is a small category objects comprise functors from C to Set morphisms consist of natural transformations (ex: category of graphs)
  • Presheaf categories SetCopSet^{C^{op}} where C is a small category objects encompass contravariant functors from C to Set morphisms involve natural transformations (ex: simplicial sets)
  • Slice categories Set/X where X is a fixed set objects include functions with codomain X morphisms form commutative triangles (ex: pointed sets)

Properties of finite topoi

  • Definition topos with finitely many objects and morphisms limited structure
  • Examples include finite sets category of sets with n elements or fewer finite groups category of G-sets for finite group G
  • Finitely complete and cocomplete all objects possess finite limits and colimits
  • manifests as finite object constrains internal logic
  • Representation theory connection finite topoi relate to representations of finite groups illuminate group actions

Sets as elementary topos

  • Finite limits terminal object singleton set binary products cartesian product of sets equalizers subset of elements where functions agree
  • Exponentials BAB^A set of functions from A to B enables function spaces
  • Subobject classifier ฮฉ = {0, 1} (false, true) characteristic functions classify subsets
  • Cartesian closure isomorphism Hom(Aร—B,C)โ‰…Hom(A,CB)Hom(A ร— B, C) โ‰… Hom(A, C^B) facilitates currying
  • Power objects P(A) power set of A enables set-theoretic operations

Subobject classifier in topoi

  • Set-based topoi ฮฉ = {0, 1} true morphism 1 โ†’ ฮฉ maps to 1 characteristic functions classify subobjects
  • Finite topoi subobject classifier finite object structure depends on specific topos
  • Properties classifies subobjects uniquely allows definition of internal logic
  • Examples in finite topoi category of G-sets for finite group G ฮฉ is set of G-invariant subsets of G category of n-element sets ฮฉ has n + 1 elements

Key Terms to Review (18)

Categorical semantics: Categorical semantics is the study of how mathematical structures and concepts can be represented and understood through the lens of category theory. It emphasizes the relationships and transformations between objects rather than focusing solely on the objects themselves. This perspective allows for a deeper understanding of different areas, such as logic and computer science, by providing a framework to express theories and concepts in a uniform way.
Category: In mathematics, particularly in category theory, a category is a collection of objects and morphisms (arrows) that define relationships between those objects. Categories provide a framework for understanding and formalizing mathematical structures and their interconnections, making them essential for various fields including algebra, topology, and logic.
Colimit: A colimit is a universal construction in category theory that generalizes the concept of taking a limit of a diagram of objects and morphisms, allowing for the 'gluing' together of objects in a category. It serves as a way to define the 'largest' object that can be mapped into all objects in a given diagram, capturing the idea of combining various structures in a coherent way.
Existence of Finite Limits: The existence of finite limits refers to the condition where certain constructions in category theory yield limits that are finite, meaning they can be expressed in terms of a finite number of elements or objects. This concept is crucial in understanding the structure of topos theory, as it allows for the formation of finite limits in set-based and finite topoi, which play a significant role in connecting various mathematical constructs and ensuring coherent relationships between objects.
Finite topos: A finite topos is a category that behaves like a topoi but is constructed from a finite number of objects and morphisms, specifically having finite limits, colimits, and exponentials. This concept connects deeply with set-based topoi, where the focus lies on the relationship between sets and morphisms in a way that extends classical set theory to a categorical framework. Finite topoi can be viewed as generalizations of finite sets, maintaining the properties that make topoi so useful in various mathematical contexts.
Functor: A functor is a mathematical mapping between categories that preserves the structure of those categories, meaning it maps objects to objects and morphisms to morphisms in a way that respects the composition and identity of the categories. Functors play a crucial role in connecting different mathematical structures and help in defining various concepts such as natural transformations and limits.
Grothendieck topos: A Grothendieck topos is a category that behaves like the category of sheaves on a topological space, providing a general framework for sheaf theory in algebraic geometry and beyond. It captures the notion of 'space' and 'sheaf' in a categorical way, linking various areas of mathematics such as geometry, logic, and model theory through universal properties and representable functors.
Internal logic: Internal logic refers to the system of logical reasoning that operates within a topos, allowing one to interpret and reason about objects and morphisms in a way that is consistent with the categorical structure of the topos. This concept connects the external properties of a topos with its internal relationships, revealing how mathematical truths can be established within its framework.
Limit: In category theory, a limit is a universal construction that captures the idea of 'convergence' of objects and morphisms. It formalizes how objects can be combined or related through diagrams, providing a way to describe the most efficient or optimal way to represent a collection of objects and their relationships.
Modal logic: Modal logic is a type of formal logic that extends classical logic to include modalities, which express notions like necessity and possibility. This approach allows for reasoning about what could be true or must be true in various scenarios, making it particularly useful in fields that explore conditions and constraints, such as set-based structures and computer science applications.
Peter Johnstone: Peter Johnstone is a prominent mathematician known for his influential work in category theory and topos theory, which have shaped the understanding of concepts like adjoint functors and subobject classifiers. His contributions provide deep insights into the structure of topoi and their applications in various mathematical fields, including algebraic geometry and logic.
Set-based topos: A set-based topos is a category that behaves like the category of sets, but also includes additional structure that allows it to handle logical operations and constructively reason about its objects. This means it not only has all the features of a category of sets, such as limits and colimits, but it also has a subobject classifier, which helps in understanding properties like inclusion and the notion of truth within the category.
Sheaf: A sheaf is a mathematical tool that captures local data attached to the open sets of a topological space and allows for the gluing of this data to form global sections. Sheaves play a crucial role in connecting local properties of spaces to global properties, and they serve as a foundational concept in various areas such as algebraic geometry, topology, and logic.
Subobject classifier: A subobject classifier is a special kind of object in category theory that classifies monomorphisms, essentially representing the notion of subobjects in a topos. It allows us to think about how subsets can be identified and manipulated within categorical contexts, serving as a way to encode the idea of characteristic functions for these subobjects.
Topos interpretation: Topos interpretation refers to the process of interpreting logical theories within the framework of topos theory, which provides a categorical structure that extends set theory. It allows for the representation of various logical systems through specific categories, enabling a deeper understanding of both mathematical structures and their relationships. This interpretation connects diverse areas of mathematics and logic, making it a powerful tool in the study of both finite and infinite structures.
Topos theory: Topos theory is a branch of mathematics that extends set theory concepts to a more abstract context, providing a framework for understanding categories that behave like the category of sets. It allows mathematicians to apply logical and categorical tools to analyze structures in various mathematical disciplines, including geometry, logic, and algebra.
William Lawvere: William Lawvere is a prominent mathematician known for his foundational work in category theory and topos theory, which has profoundly influenced modern mathematics. His contributions include the development of the concept of elementary toposes and the introduction of categorical logic, bridging the gap between abstract mathematics and practical applications in various fields.
Yoneda Lemma: The Yoneda Lemma is a foundational result in category theory that relates functors to natural transformations, stating that every functor from a category to the category of sets can be represented by a set of morphisms from an object in that category. This lemma highlights the importance of morphisms and allows for deep insights into the structure of categories and functors.
ยฉ 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
APยฎ and SATยฎ are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.