Abstract Stone Duality
Posted by David Corfield
Paul Taylor, perhaps best known to readers for his Practical Foundations of Mathematics and for his macros, has a survey paper out – Foundations for Computable Topology. This provides an introduction to a programme he’s been working on for several years, which offer us
… a purely recursive theory of elementary real analysis in which, unlike in previous approaches, the real closed interval is compact.
Judging by the following description of the programme, there ought to be many points of common interest with Café visitors:
The new theory axiomatises continuity directly. It is based on ideas concerning the duality of algebra and topology that were introduced by Marshall Stone. The resulting theory rests on computable rather than set-theoretical foundations.
Instead of set theory, it relies on an abstract formulation of Stone duality (hence the name ASD) using a monadic adjunction, along with an algebraic equation that characterises the way in which the Sierpinski space uniquely classifies open subspaces.
Philosophy tends to raise its head when people are rethinking basic concepts.
The philosophical thesis of this paper is that we can make Logic the servant of (a particular discipline in) Mathematics, and employ logical methods as tools. Complex numbers, and the differential calculus that lies behind Méchanique Céleste, came from mathematics and not logic, but they are now fully incorporated into our notation. We argue that modern mathematical ideas such as those from algebra and topology can similarly be built in to new language, but that logical methods are needed to carry this out.
These ideas are explored in an interesting methodological section – 3. Method and critique, which includes the complaint against funding agencies:
Nowadays, one is asked to give advance notice of all of the theorems that one intends to prove. Such planning may be possible when building a house, but it can be done if and only if there are no original ideas. A mathematician with a plan for a theorem wants to carry it out straight away, and the only pieces of equipment that are needed are a clear head and a clear blackboard. We don’t put our lives at stake as Columbus did when we embark on scientific experiments or try to prove mathematical theorems, but if there is no intellectual risk of failure in a proposed piece of research, then it is redundant, and probably not worthy of funding.
Sounds like Taylor might make common cause with Ronnie Brown.
Re: Abstract Stone Duality
No one shall expel us from the Paradise that Cantor has created.
It is impressive how well he articulates the problem of searching for the ‘right’ axioms. Thanks for the link: I am enjoying it immensely, although he meanders about a bit too much.