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Mathematics
via
Topos Theory
Olivia Caramello
Toposes as
unifying spaces
in Mathematics
Background
The unification of Mathematics
Toposes as
bridges
A new way of
via
doing
Mathematics Topos Theory
Topos-theoretic
invariants
The duality
theorem
Olivia Caramello
Examples
Theories of presheaf
type
University of Cambridge
Frasss
construction from a
topos-theoretic
perspective
For further
reading
The unification of
Mathematics
via
Toposes as unifying spaces in Mathematics
Topos Theory
Olivia Caramello
In this lecture, whenever I use the word topos, I really mean
Toposes as
unifying spaces
Grothendieck topos.
in Mathematics
Background
Toposes as
Recall that a Grothendieck topos can be seen as:
bridges
a generalized space
A new way of
doing
Mathematics
a mathematical universe
Topos-theoretic a geometric theory modulo Morita-equivalence where
invariants
The duality
Morita-equivalence is the equivalence relation which
theorem identifies two (geometric) theories precisely when they have
Examples
Theories of presheaf
equivalent categories of models in any Grothendieck topos
type
Frasss
E , naturally in E .
construction from a
topos-theoretic
perspective
In this talk, we present a new view of toposes as unifying spaces
For further which can serve as bridges for transferring information, ideas and
reading
results between distinct mathematical theories. This approach,
first introduced in my Ph.D. thesis, has already generated
ramifications into distinct mathematical fields and points towards
a realization of Topos Theory as a unifying theory of Mathematics.
2 / 23
The unification of
Mathematics
via
Some examples from my research
Topos Theory
Olivia Caramello
3 / 23
The unification of
Mathematics
via
Geometric theories
Topos Theory
Olivia Caramello
Toposes as Definition
unifying spaces
in Mathematics A geometric formula over a signature is any formula (with a
Background
finite number of free variables) built from atomic formulae
Toposes as
bridges over by only using finitary conjunctions, infinitary
A new way of disjunctions and existential quantifications.
doing
Mathematics
A geometric theory over a signature is any theory whose
Topos-theoretic
invariants axioms are of the form ( `~x ), where and are
The duality geometric formulae over and ~x is a context suitable for
theorem
Examples
both of them.
Theories of presheaf
type
Frasss
construction from a
Fact
topos-theoretic
perspective Most of the theories naturally arising in Mathematics are
For further
reading
geometric; and if a finitary first-order theory is not geometric, we
can always associate to it a finitary geometric theory over a larger
signature (the so-called Morleyization of the theory) with
essentially the same models in the category Set of sets.
4 / 23
The unification of
Mathematics
via
The notion of classifying topos
Topos Theory
Olivia Caramello
Toposes as
Definition
unifying spaces
in Mathematics
Let T be a geometric theory over a given signature. A classifying
Background topos of T is a Grothendieck topos Set[T] such that for any
Toposes as Grothendieck topos E we have an equivalence of categories
bridges
A new way of
doing Geom(E , Set[T]) ' T-mod(E )
Mathematics
Topos-theoretic
invariants natural in E .
The duality
theorem Theorem
Examples
Theories of presheaf
Every geometric theory (over a given signature) has a classifying
type
Frasss
topos. Conversely, every Grothendieck topos arises as the
construction from a
topos-theoretic classifying topos of some geometric theory.
perspective
5 / 23
The unification of
Mathematics
via
Toposes as bridges I
Topos Theory
Olivia Caramello
Toposes as
Definition
unifying spaces
in Mathematics By a site of definition of a Grothendieck topos E , we mean a
Background
site (C , J) such that E ' Sh(C , J).
Toposes as
bridges We shall say that two geometric theories are
A new way of
doing
Morita-equivalent if they have equivalent categories of
Mathematics
models in every Grothendieck topos E , naturally in E .
Topos-theoretic
invariants
6 / 23
The unification of
Mathematics
via
Toposes as bridges II
Topos Theory
Olivia Caramello
In fact, many important dualities and equivalences in
Toposes as
unifying spaces Mathematics can be naturally interpreted in terms of
in Mathematics
Background
Morita-equivalences (either as Morita-equivalences
Toposes as
themselves or as arising from the process of functorializing
bridges Morita-equivalences).
A new way of
doing On the other hand, Topos Theory itself is a primary source of
Mathematics
Topos-theoretic
Morita-equivalences. Indeed, different representations of the
invariants same topos can be interpreted as Morita-equivalences
The duality
theorem
between different mathematical theories.
Examples It is fair to say that the notion of Morita-equivalence
Theories of presheaf
type formalizes in many situations the feeling of looking at the
Frasss
construction from a
topos-theoretic
same thing in different ways, which explains why it is
perspective
ubiquitous in Mathematics.
For further
reading Also, the notion captures the intrinsic dynamism inherent to
the notion of mathematical theory; indeed, a mathematical
theory alone gives rise to an infinite number of
Morita-equivalences.
7 / 23
The unification of
Mathematics
via
Toposes as bridges III
Topos Theory
Olivia Caramello
Toposes as
Two geometric theories have equivalent classifying toposes if
unifying spaces
in Mathematics
and only if they are Morita-equivalent to each other.
Background Hence, a topos can be seen as a canonical representative of
Toposes as
bridges
equivalence classes of geometric theories modulo
A new way of
Morita-equivalence. So, we can think of a topos as
doing
Mathematics
embodying the common features of mathematical theories
Topos-theoretic which are Morita-equivalent to each other.
invariants
The duality
The essential features of Morita-equivalences are all hidden
theorem
inside Grothendieck toposes, and can be revealed by using
Examples
Theories of presheaf
their different sites of definition.
type
Frasss Conceptually, a property of geometric theories which is stable
construction from a
topos-theoretic
perspective
under Morita-equivalence is a property of their classifying
For further
topos.
reading Technically, considered the richness and flexibility of
topos-theoretic methods, we can expect these properties to be
expressible as topos-theoretic invariants (in the sense of
properties of toposes written in the language of Topos Theory).
8 / 23
The unification of
Mathematics
via
Toposes as bridges IV
Topos Theory
9 / 23
The unification of
Mathematics
via
Toposes as bridges V
Topos Theory
Olivia Caramello
Toposes as
unifying spaces
in Mathematics This methodology is technically feasible because the
Background relationship between a site (C , J) and the topos Sh(C , J)
Toposes as
bridges
which it generates is often very natural, enabling us to easily
A new way of
transfer invariants across different sites.
doing
Mathematics A topos thus acts as a bridge which allows the transfer of
Topos-theoretic
invariants
information and results between theories which are
The duality
Morita-equivalent to each other:
theorem
Examples
10 / 23
The unification of
Mathematics
via
Toposes as bridges VI
Topos Theory
Olivia Caramello
Toposes as
unifying spaces
in Mathematics
Topos-theoretic
classifying topos Set[T] of a geometric theory T translate into
invariants interesting logical (i.e. syntactic or semantic) properties of T.
The duality
theorem The fact that topos-theoretic invariants often specialize to
Examples important properties or constructions of natural mathematical
Theories of presheaf
type interest is a clear indication of the centrality of these
Frasss
construction from a
topos-theoretic
concepts in Mathematics. In fact, whatever happens at the
perspective
level of toposes has uniform ramifications in Mathematics as
For further
reading a whole.
11 / 23
The unification of
Mathematics
via
A new way of doing Mathematics I
Topos Theory
Examples
which is upside-down compared with the usual one. Instead
Theories of presheaf
type
of starting with simple ingredients and combining them to build
Frasss
construction from a
more complicated structures, one assumes as primitive
topos-theoretic
perspective ingredients rich and sophisticated mathematical entities,
For further namely Morita-equivalences and topos-theoretic invariants,
reading
and extracts from them a huge amount of information relevant
for classical mathematics.
12 / 23
The unification of
Mathematics
via
A new way of doing Mathematics I
Topos Theory
Examples
which is upside-down compared with the usual one. Instead
Theories of presheaf
type
of starting with simple ingredients and combining them to build
Frasss
construction from a
more complicated structures, one assumes as primitive
topos-theoretic
perspective ingredients rich and sophisticated mathematical entities,
For further namely Morita-equivalences and topos-theoretic invariants,
reading
and extracts from them a huge amount of information relevant
for classical mathematics.
13 / 23
The unification of
Mathematics
via
A new way of doing Mathematics II
Topos Theory
14 / 23
The unification of
Mathematics
via
Topos-theoretic invariants
Topos Theory
A new way of
to be a classifying topos for a geometric theory.
doing
Mathematics
to be a Boolean (resp. De Morgan) topos.
Topos-theoretic to be an atomic topos.
invariants
to be equivalent to a presheaf topos.
The duality
theorem to be a connected (resp. locally connected, compact) topos.
Examples to be a subtopos (in the sense of geometric inclusion) of a given
Theories of presheaf
type topos.
Frasss
construction from a
to have enough points.
topos-theoretic
perspective to be two-valued.
For further
reading
Of course, there are a great many others, and one can always
introduce new ones!
Sometimes, in order to obtain more specific results, it is convenient to
consider invariants of objects of toposes rather than global
invariants of toposes.
15 / 23
The unification of
Mathematics
via
Subtoposes
Topos Theory
Olivia Caramello
Toposes as
unifying spaces
in Mathematics
Background
Definition
Toposes as
A subtopos of a topos E is a geometric inclusion of the form
bridges
shj (E ) , E for a local operator j on E .
A new way of
doing
Mathematics Fact
Topos-theoretic
invariants A subtopos of a topos E can be thought of as an equivalence
The duality
theorem
class of geometric inclusions with codomain E ; hence, the
Examples notion of subtopos is a topos-theoretic invariant.
If E is the topos Sh(C , J) of sheaves on a site (C , J), the
Theories of presheaf
type
16 / 23
The unification of
Mathematics
via
The duality theorem
Topos Theory
Olivia Caramello
Toposes as
unifying spaces
in Mathematics
Definition
Background Let T be a geometric theory over a signature . A quotient of
Toposes as
bridges T is a geometric theory T0 over such that every axiom of T
A new way of is provable in T0 .
doing
Mathematics Let T and T0 be geometric theories over a signature . We
Topos-theoretic
invariants
say that T and T0 are syntactically equivalent, and we write
The duality T s T0 , if for every geometric sequent over , is
theorem
provable in T if and only if is provable in T0 .
Examples
Theories of presheaf
type
Frasss
construction from a
Theorem
topos-theoretic
perspective Let T be a geometric theory over a signature . Then the
For further
reading
assignment sending a quotient of T to its classifying topos defines
a bijection between the s -equivalence classes of quotients of T
and the subtoposes of the classifying topos Set[T] of T.
17 / 23
The unification of
Mathematics
via
A simple example
Topos Theory
Olivia Caramello
In light of the fact that the notion of subtopos is a topos-theoretic
Toposes as
unifying spaces invariant, the duality theorem allows us to easily transfer
in Mathematics
information between quotients of geometric theories classified by
Background
the same topos.
Toposes as
bridges For example, consider the following problem. Suppose to have a
A new way of
doing
Morita-equivalence between two geometric theories T and S.
Mathematics
For further
correspond bijectively with subtoposes of the classifying topos
reading Set[T] = Set[S].
18 / 23
The unification of
Mathematics
via
A simple example
Topos Theory
Olivia Caramello
In light of the fact that the notion of subtopos is a topos-theoretic
Toposes as
unifying spaces invariant, the duality theorem allows us to easily transfer
in Mathematics
information between quotients of geometric theories classified by
Background
the same topos.
Toposes as
bridges For example, consider the following problem. Suppose to have a
A new way of
doing
Morita-equivalence between two geometric theories T and S.
Mathematics
For further
correspond bijectively with subtoposes of the classifying topos
reading Set[T] = Set[S].
19 / 23
The unification of
Mathematics
via
Applications
Topos Theory
Olivia Caramello
Toposes as
unifying spaces
in Mathematics
The duality theorem realizes a unification between the theory of
Background elementary toposes and geometric logic. In fact, there are several
Toposes as notions and results in elementary Topos Theory which apply to
bridges
subtoposes of a given topos; all of these results can then be
A new way of
doing transferred into the world of Logic by passing through the theory
Mathematics
Topos-theoretic
of Grothendieck toposes. Examples include:
invariants
The duality
The notion of Booleanization (resp. DeMorganization) of a
theorem geometric theory.
Examples
Theories of presheaf The logical interpretation of the surjection-inclusion
type
Frasss factorization of a geometric morphism.
construction from a
topos-theoretic
perspective The Heyting algebra structure on the collection of
For further
reading
(syntactic-equivalence classes of) geometric theories over a
given signature.
20 / 23
The unification of
Mathematics
via
Theories of presheaf type
Topos Theory
Examples Fact
Theories of presheaf
type For any theory of presheaf type C , we have two different
Frasss
construction from a representations of its classifying topos:
topos-theoretic
perspective
21 / 23
The unification of
Mathematics
via
Topos-theoretic Frasss construction
Topos Theory
Olivia Caramello
Toposes as
Theorem
unifying spaces
in Mathematics
Let T be a theory of presheaf type such that the category
Background
f.p.T-mod(Set) satisfies both amalgamation and joint embedding
Toposes as properties. Then any two countable homogeneous T-models in
bridges
Set are isomorphic.
A new way of
doing
Mathematics
The quotient of T axiomatizing the homogeneous T-models is
Topos-theoretic precisely the Booleanization of T.
invariants
The duality
theorem The theorem is proved by means of an investigation of topos
Examples
Theories of presheaf
Sh(f.p.T-mod(Set)op , Jat )
type
Frasss
construction from a
geometrically
topos-theoretic
perspective syntactically
For further
reading semantically
The main result arises from an integration of these three lines of
investigation according to the principles toposes as bridges
explained above.
22 / 23
The unification of
Mathematics
via
For further reading
Topos Theory
Olivia Caramello
Toposes as
unifying spaces
in Mathematics
Background
Toposes as
bridges
O. Caramello.
A new way of
doing The unification of Mathematics via Topos Theory,
Mathematics
Topos-theoretic
arXiv:math.CT/1006.3930, 2010
invariants
The duality
O. Caramello.
theorem The Duality between Grothendieck toposes and Geometric
Examples
Theories of presheaf
Theories, Ph.D. thesis
type
Frasss
University of Cambridge, 2009
construction from a
topos-theoretic
perspective
For further
reading
23 / 23