Maps II : Chasing Diagrams

In categorical proof theory, propositions and proofs are presented as objects and arrows in a category. It thus embodies the strong constructivist paradigms of propositions-as-types and proofs-as-constructions , which lie in the foundation of computational logic. Moreover, in the categorical setting, a third paradigm arises, not available elsewhere: logical-operations-as-adjunctions. It ooers an answer to the notorious question of the equality of proofs. So we chase diagrams in algebra of proofs. On the basis of these ideas, the present paper investigates proof theory of regular logic: the f^;9g-fragment of the rst order logic with equality. The corresponding categorical structure is regular bration. The examples include stable factorisations, sites, triposes. Regular logic is exactly what is needed to talk about maps, as total and single-valued relations. However, when enriched with proofs-as-arrows, this familiar concept must be supplied with an additional conversion rule, connecting the proof of the totality with the proof of the single-valuedness. We explain the logical meaning of this rule, and then determine precise conditions under which a regular bration supports the principle of function comprehension (that each map corresponds to a unique function viz arrow in the base), thus lifting a basic theorem from regular categories (e.g. 12, 2.132]), recently relativized to factorisation systems 22, 42]. The obtained results bring us a step closer to extending the }-set construction 20] from triposes to non-posetal brations, and thus closer tòtoposes' accommodating categorical proof theory.