Higher Operads, Higher Categories
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: August 9, 2004
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 448
ISBN-13: 9780521532150
Subjects: Category theory; Geometry; Science/Mathematics; Geometry - General; Mathematics; Algebra - General; Combinatorics; Mathematics / Combinatorics; Categories (Mathematics); Operads
First sentence: Higher-dimensional category theory is the study of a zoo of exotic structures: operads, n-categories, multicategories, monoidal categories, braided monoidal categories, and more.
Description: Higher-dimensional category theory is the study of n-categories, operads, braided monoidal categories, and other such exotic structures. It draws its inspiration from areas as diverse as topology, quantum algebra, mathematical physics, logic, and theoretical computer science. The heart of this book is the language of generalized operads. This is as natural and transparent a language for higher category theory as the language of sheaves is for algebraic geometry, or vector spaces for linear algebra. It is introduced carefully, then used to give simple descriptions of a variety of higher categorical structures. In particular, one possible definition of n-category is discussed in detail, and some common aspects of other possible definitions are established. This is the first book on the subject and lays its foundations. It will appeal to both graduate students and established researchers who wish to become acquainted with this modern branch of mathematics.
Notes: London Mathematical Society Lecture Note Series