$$\newcommand{\rec}{\mathop{\rm rec}\nolimits}\newcommand{\ind}{\mathop{\rm ind}\nolimits}\newcommand{\inl}{\mathop{\rm inl}\nolimits}\newcommand{\inr}{\mathop{\rm inr}\nolimits}\newcommand{\Hom}{\mathop{\rm Hom}\nolimits}\newcommand{\Ty}{\mathop{\rm Ty}\nolimits}\newcommand{\Tm}{\mathop{\rm Tm}\nolimits}\newcommand{\op}{\mathop{\rm op}\nolimits}\newcommand{\Set}{\mathop{\rm Set}\nolimits}\newcommand{\CwF}{\mathop{\rm CwF}\nolimits}\newcommand{\CwFB}{\mathop{\rm CwFB}\nolimits}\newcommand{\CwFId}{\mathop{\rm CwFId}\nolimits}\newcommand{\Cat}{\mathop{\rm Cat}\nolimits}\newcommand{\bu}{\bullet}\newcommand{\isContr}{\mathop{\rm isContr}\nolimits}\newcommand{\coh}{\mathop{\bf coh}\nolimits}\newcommand{\id}{\mathop{\rm id}\nolimits}\newcommand{\Id}{\mathop{\rm Id}\nolimits}\newcommand{\refl}{\mathop{\rm refl}\nolimits}\newcommand{\J}{\mathop{\rm J}\nolimits}\newcommand{\scol}{\mathop{\,;\,}\nolimits}$$

Types are

Brunerie globular weak $\omega$-groupoids

Younesse Kaddar

Supervised by:
Thorsten Altenkirch, Paolo Capriotti, Nicolai Kraus

Nottingham University, June-July 2017

PDF Report


Work Environment


I. Motivations

II. Weak $ω$-groupoids

III. Categories with Families & Brunerie weak $ω$-groupoids

IV. Conclusion

Work Environment


Functional Programming Laboratory: University of Nottingham

I. Motivations

A. What is wrong with set theory

?   In set theory:

$$-1 ≝ \bigg\lbrace \big\lbrace n , \; \lbrace n , n+1\rbrace \big\rbrace \mid n ∈ ℕ \bigg\rbrace \\\text{ where } ℕ \ni n ≝ \underbrace{\lbrace ⋯ \lbrace}_{n \text{ times }} ∅ \rbrace ⋯ \rbrace$$

  1. Poorness of the very notion of set:

    • far-fetched definitions
    • reasoning up to isomorphism made difficult
  2. Non-constructive

I.B - Vladimir Voevodsky’s new foundational program (2006/2009)

HoTT book authors
  • Mistake in one of his papers

    • Modern mathematical proofs: too complex to be reliably checked by humans
    • ⟶ Since then, has been championing computer proof assistants

Univalent Foundations / Homotopy Type Theory:

new constructive foundations for mathematics based on Per Martin-Löf’s dependent type theory.


Agda logo   The functional programming language / proof assistant Agda: based on dependent type theory.

Agda code

Martin-Löf’s Dependent Type Theory (MLTT)… in a nutshell




  1. A foundational framework for mathematics

  2. A programming language

    • more expressive than simply-typed $λ$-calculus (the "idealized" version of simply-typed functional programming languages such as OCaml)

In Type theory:

  • contexts (denoted by the letters $Γ, Δ, Θ, ...$
  • types ($A, B, C, ...$)
  • terms ($a, b, c, t, u, v, ...$)
  • substitutions ($γ, θ, δ, ...$).

and a collection of inference rules to form new types/terms.

Types can depend on values

Contexts

A context $Γ$:
is a list (of assumptions)
$$\, \\ x_1 : A_1, \, x_2:A_2(x_1) \, \ldots, \, x_n:A_n(x_1, \ldots, x_{n-1}) \\$$
of variables, such that each type $A_i(x_1, \ldots, x_{i-1})$ depends on variables $x_1, \ldots, x_{i-1}$ of earlier types $A_1(x_1), \ldots, A_{i-1}(x_1, \ldots, x_{i-2})$.





For instance, in:

let $n$ be a natural number, $p$ be a prime number, $𝕂$ a field of order $p^n$, and $V$ a $𝕂$-vector space

the context $Γ$ contains the variables $n, p, 𝕂$, and $V$, having the desired types.

Types and Terms

Inference rules enable us to derive judgments of the form:

Judgement Interpreted as
$\Gamma \vdash a {:} A$ $a$ is a term of type $A$ in the context $Γ$
$\Gamma \vdash a ≡ b {:} A$ $a$ and $b$ are definitionally/judgmentally equal objects of type $A$ in $Γ$

Types play the role of

  • sets
  • … as well as logical propositions!

The Curry-Howard correspondence:

proving a mathematical statement in Type Theory

providing an element of its corresponding type.

The Curry-Howard correspondence: Example


\(\Pi\)-types (dependent products):
the types of functions whose result depends on the argument

e.g. functions $f : (x:A) ⟶ B(x)$ such that $f(x): B(x)$ for each $x: A$

Via the Curry-Howard correspondence:

dependent products express universal quantification, such as

$$∀x ∈ A, B(x)$$


Ex: A proof of

$$∀x, y ∈ ℕ, x + y = y + x$$

is a dependent function of type

$$f : \prod\limits_{x: ℕ} \prod\limits_{y: ℕ} x + y = y + x$$

such that, for instance, $f(1, 2)$ is evidence that $1 + 2 = 2 + 1$.

$Σ$-types:
existential quantification represented as an indexed pair, where the type of the second component depends on the first.

$$(a,b):\Sigma _{(x:A)}B(x)$$

$a:A$ and $b:B(a)$.


Proof assistants make use of the Curry-Howard correspondence.


Examples of dependent types

  • $A^n$: type of $n$-tuples:

    $$(a_1, \ldots, a_n) : A^n$$
    where $a_i : A$.

  • For all natural number $n$, ${\rm Even} n$ (proofs that $n$ is even)

  • For all natural numbers $n, m$: $m > n$ (evidence that $m$ is greater than $n$)

Substitutions / Context Morphisms

A substitution $σ: Δ ⟶ \overbrace{Γ}^{\rlap{≝\; x_1:A_1,\; x_2:A_2(x_1),\;\ldots,\; x_n:A_n(x_1, \ldots, x_{n-1})}}$:
a list of terms
$$σ ≝ (t_1, \ldots, t_n)$$
such that

$$\begin{aligned}Δ &\vdash t_1 :A_1\\Δ &\vdash t_2 :A_1(t_2)\\\vdots\\Δ &\vdash t_n : A_n(t_1,t_2,\dots, t_{n-1})\end{aligned}$$


Notation: $σ: Δ ⟶ Γ$ applied in $Γ ⊢ t: A$ is written $t[σ]$ (free variables substituted by their corresponding term in $σ$), idem for types.

  • $Γ ≝ (n: ℕ, \; p:{\rm Prime}, \; 𝕂: {\rm Field} \, p^n, \; V: 𝕂\text{-}{\rm VectorSpace})$
  • $Δ ≝ (q: {\rm PalindromicPrime}, 𝕃: {\rm TopologicalField} \, q^q, \; A : 𝕃\text{-}{\rm Algebra})$

$$\begin{aligned}Δ &\vdash q : ℕ\\Δ &\vdash q :{\rm Prime}\\Δ &\vdash 𝕃 :{\rm Field} \, q^q\\Δ &\vdash A : 𝕃-{\rm Algebra}\end{aligned}$$

Inference rules for Intensional equality

  • Formation:

    $$\frac{\Gamma \vdash A\hspace{1em}\Gamma \vdash a {:} A\hspace{1em}\Gamma \vdash a' {:} A}{\Gamma \vdash a ≃_A a'}$$

  • Introduction:

    $$\frac{\Gamma \vdash A\hspace{1em}\Gamma \vdash a {:} A}{\Gamma \vdash \refl {:} a ≃_A a}$$

  • Elimination:

    $$\frac{\Gamma \vdash x:A\hspace{1em}\Gamma, y: A, p: x ≃_A y \vdash P(y, p)\hspace{1em}\Gamma \vdash d {:} P(x, \refl_x)}{ \Gamma, y: A, p: x ≃_A y \vdash \J(y, p, d) {:} P(y, p)}$$

  • Computation:

    $$\J(x, \refl_x, d) ≡ d {:} P(x, \refl_x)$$

I.C. Homotopy Type Theory

Homotopy

In homotopy theory, two paths are said to be homotopic if one can be “continuously deformed” into the other.

In homotopy type theory (a new flavour of MLTT):

  • a type $A$ is abstractly seen as a topological space whose points are its objects

    • if $x, y: A$, $x ≃_A y$ represents the paths from $x$ (start point) to $y$ (end point).

    • given two parallel paths $p, q : x ≃_A y$, a path $r : p ≃_{x≃_A y} q$ corresponds to a homotopy/2-path between $p$ and $q$.

    • $r ≃_{p ≃_{x ≃_A y} q} s$ is the type of 3-paths, and so on…

The tower comprised of these paths, paths of paths, paths of paths of paths, … arising from $A$ forms an $ω$-groupoid

The Univalence Axiom

Univalence Axiom in Voevodsky’s univalent program:
equality of types is (weakly) equivalent to equivalence

⟶ This axiom is not constructive per se

Eliminating univalence is a holy grail

… and formalizing a weak $ω$-groupoid model of Type Theory inside Type Theory might pave the way for it!

II. Weak $ω$-groupoids

Comparison of structures and laws of different algebraic structures

  Monoids Categories Higher Categories Strict $𝜔$-Groupoids
Carrier set/Underlying set Sets Multigraphs Globular Sets Globular Sets
Structure Binary operation, Neutral element Composition, Identity morphisms Compositions, Identity morphisms Compositions, Identity morphisms, Inverse elements
Laws Associativity, Unit law Associativity, Unit law Associativity, Unit law, Interchange law Associativity, Unit law, Interchange law, Inverse law
A globular set:
is a family of sets \((G_n)_{n∈ℕ}\) and functions \(s_n, t_n: G_n ⟶ G_{n-1}\) (which stand for source and target respectively) such that, for all $n∈ℕ$:

$$\begin{cases} s_{n-1} \circ s_n = s_{n-1} \circ t_n & \\ t_{n-1} \circ s_n = t_{n-1} \circ t_n \end{cases} \qquad\textit{(subscripts in \(s_n, t_n\) will be omitted)}$$

Intuition

  • the points \(\bullet\) are members of \(G_0\)
  • \(a, b∈ G_1\)
  • \(θ ∈ G_2\)
  • \(s(θ) ≝ a\)
  • \(t(θ) ≝ b\)

$\begin{cases} s(a) = s(b) \\ t(a) = t(b)\end{cases}\quad$ i.e.: $\quad \begin{cases} s(s (𝜃)) = s(t (𝜃)) \\ t(s (𝜃)) = t(t (𝜃))\end{cases}$

All sources and their corresponding targets are parallel.

For all \(n∈ℕ^\ast, \; a, b:G_{n-1}\), $G_n(a, b) ≝ \lbrace f∈G_n \mid s (f) = a \text{ and } t (f) = b\rbrace$

The elements of \(G_n\) are called \(n\)-arrows.

Laws and Structure of $ω$-groupoids

Strict $𝜔$-groupoids Weak $𝜔$-groupoids
usual pattern: structures (compositions, identity elements, inverse elements) and laws (associativity, interchange law, identity law, inverse law) nothing but structure. Laws and structures with regard to elements of \(G_n\) now become elements of \(G_{n+1}\).

Strict \(𝜔\)-groupoids

Let \(G ≝ \bigsqcup\limits_{n≥0} G_n\) be a strict \(𝜔\)-groupoid.

Dimension skips:
If \(i > j > k ∈ ℕ, \; \; x, x' : G_k, \; f, f' : G_j(x, x')\) and \(𝛼 : G_i(f, f')\), then \(𝛼\) can be seen as \(k\)-arrow of \(G_k(x, x')\)

Indeed: for all \(n∈ℕ^\ast\) and \(f_1, \ldots, f_n ∈ \lbrace s, t \rbrace\):

\[\begin{cases} s \; f_1 \; \ldots \; f_n = s \\ t \; f_1 \; \ldots \; f_n = t \end{cases}\]

⟶ only the leftmost composition matters.

Structure of \(G_n\)

Identity:
\[{\rm id}^n (\_ ) : \prod\limits_{a: G_{n-1}} G_n(a, a)\]
Inverse:
\[{\rm inv}^n (\_ , \_ ) : \prod\limits_{a, b: G_{n-1}} G_n(a, b) ⟶ G_n(b, a)\]

There are $n$ different types of compositions in \(G_n\): $\scol_1^n, \, \ldots, \, \scol_n^n$.

Let \(1 ≤ i < n\).

Horizontal Composition (along the \(i\)-arrows) Vertical Composition (along the \(n\)-arrows)
$$\; \\ \scol^n_i: \prod\limits_{x, x', x'': G_0}\prod\limits_{\substack{f, f': G_i(x, x') \\ g, g': G_i(x', x'')}} \\ G_n(f, f') × G_n(g, g') ⟶ G_n(f \,\scol_i^i\, g, \, f' \scol_i^i g') \\$$
$$\; \\ \scol^n_n: \prod\limits_{x, x': G_0}\prod\limits_{f, f', f'': G_i(x, x')} \\ G_n(f, f') × G_n(f', f'') ⟶ G_n(f, f'') \\$$
$$\; \\ \cfrac{𝛼:G_i(x, x')\qquad 𝛼': G_i(x', x'')}{𝛼 \scol_i^n 𝛼': G_i(x, x'')} \\$$
$$\; \\ \cfrac{𝛼:G_n(f, f') \qquad 𝛼': G_n(f', f'')}{𝛼 \scol_n^n 𝛼': G_n(f, f'')} \\$$


Laws of \(G_n\)

Identity (\(i\)): \(x:G_i\)
Composition (\(i < j\)): the points \(x, x', x'' : G_i\), the simple arrows \(f, g : G_j\)
Identity Laws (\(i<j\)): the points \(x, x' : G_i\), the simple arrow \(f : G_j\) Left:
Right: idem

Associativity law (\(i < j\)): the points \(x, x', x'', x''' : G_i\), the simple arrows \(f, g, h : G_j\)


Interchange law (\(i < j < k\)): the points \(x, x', x'' : G_i\), the simple arrows \(f, f', f'', g, g', g'' : G_j\), the double arrows \(𝛼, 𝛼', 𝛽, 𝛽' : G_k\)

Weak \(𝜔\)-groupoids: handmade partial construction

\(G_1\)

  • Identity:
    \[{\rm id}^1 (\_ ) : \prod\limits_{a: G_0} G_1(a, a)\]
  • Inverse:
    \[{\rm inv}^1 (\_ , \_ ) : \prod\limits_{a, b: G_0} G_1(a, b) ⟶ G_1(b, a)\]
  • Composition:
    \[\scol^1_1 (\_ , \_ , \_ ) : \prod\limits_{a, b, c: G_0} G_1(a, b) × G_1(b, c) ⟶ G_1(a, c)\]

\(G_2\)

  • Identity:
    \[{\rm id}^2 (\_ ) : \prod\limits_{f: G_1} G_2(f, f)\]
  • Inverse:
    \[{\rm inv}^2 (\_ , \_ ) : \prod\limits_{f, g: G_1} G_2(f, g) ⟶ G_2(g, f)\]

  • Horizontal Composition (along the \(1\)-arrows):

$$\scol^2_1: \prod\limits_{x, x', x'': G_0}\prod\limits_{f, f': G_1(x, x'), g, g': G_1(x', x'')} \\ G_2(f, f') × G_2(g, g') ⟶ G_2(f \scol_1^1 g, \, f' \scol_1^1 g') \\\cfrac{𝛼:G_1(x, x')\qquad 𝛼': G_1(x', x'')}{𝛼 \scol_1^2 𝛼': G_1(x, x'')}$$

  • Vertical Composition (along the \(2\)-arrows):

$$\scol^2_2: \prod\limits_{x, x': G_0}\prod\limits_{f, f', f'': G_1(x, x')} G_2(f, f') × G_2(f', f'') ⟶ G_2(f, f'') \\\cfrac{𝛼:G_2(f, f')\qquad 𝛼': G_2(f', f'')}{𝛼 \scol_2^2 𝛼': G_2(f, f'')}$$

  • Associativity along the \(1\)-arrows}:
    \[𝛼^1_1 (\_ , \_ , \_ ) : \prod\limits_{x, x', x'', x''': G_0} \prod\limits_{\substack{f: G_1(x, x') \\ g: G_1(x', x'') \\ h: G_1(x'', x''')}} G_2((f \scol_1^1 g) \scol_1^1 h, \; f \scol_1^1 (g \scol_1^1 h))\]

“Laws” that have become structure

  • Left identity “law”:

    \[𝜆^1 (\_ ) : \prod\limits_{f: G_1} G_2(({\rm id}^1_{s f} \scol_1^1 f), \; f)\]

  • Right identity “law”:

    \[𝜌^1(\_ ) : \prod\limits_{f: G_1} G_2((f \scol_1^1 {\rm id}^1_{t f}), \; f)\]

  • Left inverse “law”:

    \[l^1(\_ ) : \prod\limits_{f: G_1} G_2(({\rm inv}^1_{sf, tf}(f) \scol_1^1 f), \; {\rm id}^1_{t f})\]

  • Right inverse “law”:

    \[r^1(\_ ) : \prod\limits_{f: G_1} G_2((f \scol_1^1 {\rm inv}^1_{sf, tf}(f)), \; {\rm id}^1_{s f})\]

\(G_3\), and so on…

At level \(3\), in addition, we have to take into account

  • the interchange law between the 2-arrows and the 1-arrows:

    \[𝛼^1_2 : \prod\limits_{x, x': G_0} \prod\limits_{f, f', f'', f''': G_1(x, x')} \prod\limits_{\substack{α: G_2(f, f') \\ β: G_2(f', f'') \\ γ: G_2(f'', f''')}} G_3((α \scol_2^2 β) \scol_2^2 γ, \; α \scol_2^2 (β \scol_2^2 γ))\]

  • the different compositions \(\scol_1^3, \scol_2^3, \scol_3^3\)

  • the associativity along the \(2\)-arrows:

    \[𝛼^1_2 : \prod\limits_{x, x': G_0} \prod\limits_{f, f', f'', f''': G_1(x, x')} \prod\limits_{\substack{α: G_2(f, f') \\ β: G_2(f', f'') \\ γ: G_2(f'', f''')}} G_3((α \scol_2^2 β) \scol_2^2 γ, \; α \scol_2^2 (β \scol_2^2 γ))\]

  • etc…

But that’s not it!

Coherence laws in $G_3$:

Equations between elements of $G_1$ have been replaced by new 2-arrows.

But one also requires that these 2-arrows satisfy some new equations (represented by new 3-arrows) of their own, called coherence laws!

For instance, there are 5 ways to parenthesize the composition of 4 1-arrows in $G_1$, which are related as follows:

We impose a coherence law - the pentagon identity - (which becomes a new 3-arrow), stating that all these ways are identical (up to a 3-arrow).

Analogously, another coherence law says that composing with the left identity then with the right identity and composing with the right identity then with the left one are the same thing.

II. Brunerie Type Theory

Brunerie type theory \(𝔹\):

$$\begin{align*} \qquad&\cfrac{}{\bullet ⊢ \star}\quad\text{(Base type)}\\ \\ \qquad&\cfrac{Γ ⊢ x, y : A}{Γ \vdash x ≃ y}\quad\text{(Equality rule)}\\ \\ \qquad&\cfrac{\isContr Γ \qquad Γ ⊢ A}{Γ \vdash \coh_A^Γ : A}\quad\text{(Coherence rule)}\end{align*}$$

where \(\isContr\) (which stands for is contractible) is inductively defined as follows:

$$\begin{align*}&\isContr (\bullet.\star) \\&\cfrac{\isContr Δ \qquad Δ ⊢ x: A}{\isContr Δ.(y:A).(p: x≃y)}\end{align*}$$

The intuition behind is that

  • the elements of the base type \(\star\) correspond to the elements of the set \(G_0\) of the underlying globular set of the weak \(ω\)-groupoid.

  • if \(x, y: \star\) the elements of \(x ≃ y\) are the 1-arrows of \(G_1(x, y)\)

  • if \(x, y: \star\) and \(f, g: x ≃ y\), the elements of \(f ≃ g\) are those of \(G_1(f, g)\)

  • and so on…

a context
\(Γ ≝ \bullet.(x \; y:\star).(f \; g : x ≃ y).(α : f ≃ g)\) will be depicted as

A context is contractible if it can be “reduced to a point”, by contracting along the arrows.

Example

  • the context \(Γ ≝ \bullet.(x \; y \; z \; t:\star).(f : x ≃ y).(g : y ≃ z).(h : y ≃ t)\) is contractible

  • but the context \(Γ' ≝ \bullet.(x \; y \; z \; t:\star).(f : x ≃ y).(g : y ≃ z).(h \; i : y ≃ t)\) is not:

because of the hole between \(y\) and \(t\) (we cannot contract \(y\) and \(t\)).

But if the hole between \(y\) and \(t\) is filled by a 2-arrow, like in
\(Γ'' ≝ \bullet.(x \; y \; z \; t:\star).(f : x ≃ y).(g : y ≃ z).(h \; i : y ≃ t).(α ≃ h \; i)\)

then it becomes contractible.

Example: the associativity law along the \(1\)-arrows.

Let \(x, y, z, t : \star, \; f : x≃y, \; g: y≃z, \; h: z≃t\) and
\(Γ_{x, y, z, t} ≝ \bullet.(x \; y \; z \; t : \star).(f : x ≃ y).(g : y ≃ z).(h : z ≃ t)\)

First, how to define composition along the \(1\)-arrows?

As

  • the context \(Γ_{x, y, z, t}\) is contractible
  • and \(Γ_{x, y, z, t} ⊢ x ≃ z\) (since \(Γ_{x, y, z, t} ⊢ x, z : \star\))

\(f \scol_1^1 g : x ≃ z\) can be defined in \(Γ_{x, y, z, t}\) as
\(\coh_{x ≃ z}^{Γ_{x, y, z, t}}\)

Idem for the other compositions.

Now, there exists a

\[𝛼^1(f, g, h) : (f \scol_1^1 g) \scol_1^1 h ≃ f \scol_1^1 (g \scol_1^1 h)\]

in \(Γ_{x, y, z, t}\), since \(Γ_{x, y, z, t}\) is contractible and \(Γ_{x, y, z, t} ⊢ (f \scol_1^1 g) \scol_1^1 h ≃ f \scol_1^1 (g \scol_1^1 h)\))!

III. Categories with Families

a category $𝒞$ is given by:

  • Structure:

    • Objects: a class of objects, denoted $\vert 𝒞 \vert$

    • Arrows: for each pair of objects $X, Y : \vert 𝒞\vert$, a "collection" of arrows (or morphisms) from $X$ to $Y$ denoted by $\Hom_𝒞(X, Y)$, or $𝒞(X, Y)$.

    For each $f ∈ 𝒞(X, Y)$,

    • $f ∈ 𝒞(X, Y)$ is denoted by $f: X ⟶ Y$ or $X \overset{f}{⟶} Y$

    • $X$ is the domain of $f$, $Y$ its codomain

    • Composition: for each pair of morphisms $f: X ⟶ Y$ and $g: Y ⟶ Z$, a composite arrow $g \circ f: A ⟶ C$ (and $f ; g : A ⟶ C$)

    • Identity: for each object $A : \vert 𝒞 \vert$, an identity morphism $\id_X : A ⟶ A$

  • Laws:

    • Associativity of composition: for each $f: X ⟶ Y, g: X ⟶ Z, h: Z ⟶ T$,
      $$f \circ (g \circ h) = (f \circ g) \circ h$$
    • Unit law: for each $f: X ⟶ Y$, $\id_Y \circ f = f \circ \id_X$

Dual Category

The dual category $𝒞^{op}$ of a category $𝒞$:
has the same objects as $𝒞$, and all of its arrows are "turned around":
$$f: X ⟶ Y \text{ in } 𝒞 ⟺ f^\ast: Y ⟶ X \text{ in } 𝒞^{op}$$

Functors

Let $𝒞, 𝒟$ be two categories.

a (covariant) functor $F: 𝒞 ⟶ 𝒟$ from $𝒞$ to $𝒟$ is a mapping such that:

  • for each object $X : \vert 𝒞 \vert$ in $𝒞$, $F(X)$ is an object in $𝒟$

  • for each morphism $f : X ⟶ Y$ in $𝒞$, $F(f) : F(X) ⟶ F(Y)$ (also written $Ff$) is a morphism from $F(X)$ to $F(Y)$ in $𝒟$

  • Preservation of composition: $F(g∘f)=F(g)∘F(f)$ for all morphisms $f:X ⟶ Y, \; g:Y ⟶ Z$ in $𝒞$.

  • Preservation of identity: $F(\id_X)=\id_{F(X)}$ for each object $X : \vert 𝒞 \vert$ in $𝒞$

Initial and terminal objects

An object $\mathbb{0}$ (resp. $\mathbb{1}$) in a category $𝒞$ is initial (resp. terminal):
if for every object $X : \vert 𝒞\vert$, there exists a unique arrow from $\mathbb{0}$ to $X$ (resp. from $X$ to $\mathbb{1}$).

Slice and coslice categories

Let $𝒞$ be a category and $X : \vert 𝒞 \vert$ an object of $𝒞$.

The slice category $𝒞/X$ is described as follows:

  • An object of $𝒞/X$ is a pair $(A, f)$ where $A : \vert 𝒞 \vert$ and $f : A ⟶ X$ in $𝒞$.
  • An arrow of $𝒞/X$ from $(A, f)$ to $(B, g)$ is an arrow $h: A ⟶ B$ such that $f = g \circ h$

The coslice category $X\backslash 𝒞$ is the dual category of $𝒞/X$.

Category of elements

Let $F: 𝒞 ⟶ \Set$ be a functor.

The category of elements $\int^𝒞 F$ is described as follows:

  • An object of $\int^𝒞 F$ is a pair $(A, a)$ where $A : \vert 𝒞 \vert$ and $a ∈ F(A)$.
  • An arrow of $\int^𝒞 F$ from $(A, a)$ to $(B, b)$ is an arrow $h: A ⟶ B$ such that $Ff(a) = b$

a Category with Families (abbreviated CwF) is given by:

  • a category \(𝒞\), with a terminal object \(\bullet\) (the empty context)

  • a functor

    \[\Ty : 𝒞^{\,\op} ⟶ \Set\]

  • a functor from the category of elements of \(\Ty\):

    \[\Tm : \bigg(\int_𝒞 \Ty \bigg)^{\,\op} ⟶ \Set\]

  • Universal property of context extension: for each \(Γ : 𝒞, \; A : \Ty (Γ)\), the following functor from the slice category \(𝒞/Γ\)

    \[\begin{cases} (𝒞/Γ)^{\op} &⟶ \Set \\ (Δ, σ) &⟼ \Tm\big(Δ, \Ty(σ)(A)\big)\end{cases}\]

    is represented by an object \((Γ.A, π_A)\), which roughly means that:

    for each context morphism $σ : ∆ ⟶ Γ$ and type $A : \Ty(Γ)$, there is a "natural" (it does not depend on the variable $(Δ, σ)$) isomorphism:

    $$\begin{aligned}[t]\Hom_{𝒞/Γ}((Δ, σ), (Γ.A, π_A)) & \qquad ≃ \qquad \Tm(Δ, \underbrace{\Ty(σ)(A)}_{\text{denoted by } A[σ]})\end{aligned}$$

A Brunerie CwF (resp. CwF with base-typed intensional identity) is a CwF which “respects” the inference rules of Brunerie type theory (resp. of type theory comprised of the “base type rule” and intensional identity).

The category of Brunerie CwFs: $\CwFB$ (resp. $\CwFId$) has an initial object $𝔹$ (resp. $𝕊^{\Id}_\star$).

A Brunerie globular weak $ω$-groupoid is a weak CwF-morphism from $𝔹$ to $\Set$

To show that types form Brunerie globular weak $ω$-groupoids, we proceed by demonstrating that there exist CwF-morphisms

$$𝔹 \overset{Φ}{⟶} 𝕊^{\Id}_\star \overset{F_A}{⟶} 𝕊 \overset{𝕊(\bullet, \_)}{⟶} \Set$$

whose composition constitute the Brunerie globular weak $ω$-groupoid associated with the terms of a given type $A$.

IV. Conclusion