Categories and General Algebraic Structures with Applications (Feb 2016)

Birkhoff's Theorem from a geometric perspective: A simple example

  • F. William Lawvere

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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‎From Hilbert's theorem of zeroes‎, ‎and from Noether's ideal theory‎, ‎Birkhoff derived certain algebraic concepts (as explained by Tholen) that have a dual significance in general toposes‎, ‎similar to their role in the original examples of algebraic geometry‎. ‎I will describe a simple example that illustrates some of the aspects of this relationship‎. The dualization from algebra to geometry in the basic Grothendieck spirit can be accomplished (without intervention of topological spaces) by the following method‎, ‎known as Isbell conjugacy.

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