Where to Find Introductory Books on Category Theory?

Thread starter matticus
Start date Oct 28, 2008
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Books Category theory Theory

In summary, category theory is a branch of mathematics that provides a framework for organizing and understanding various mathematical concepts and structures. It is important because it allows for a more unified and general approach to mathematics, and has applications in fields such as computer science, physics, and linguistics. Some common examples of categories include the category of sets, groups, and topological spaces. For beginners, recommended books on category theory include "Category Theory in Context" by Emily Riehl, "Conceptual Mathematics" by F. William Lawvere and Stephen H. Schanuel, and "Category Theory for the Sciences" by David I. Spivak.

Oct 28, 2008

matticus

Does anyone know of a good introductory book on category theory?

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Oct 28, 2008

mathwonk

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the most fun one i found as a young man was that by peter freyd.

Abelian Categories. An Introduction to the Theory of Functors. Harper's Series in Modern Mathematics
Peter Freyd

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Related to Where to Find Introductory Books on Category Theory?

1. What is category theory?

Category theory is a branch of mathematics that deals with the study of mathematical structures and relationships between them. It provides a framework for organizing and understanding various mathematical concepts and structures.

2. Why is category theory important?

Category theory provides a powerful and abstract language for describing and analyzing mathematical structures and their relationships. It allows for a more unified and general approach to mathematics, which can lead to new insights and connections between different areas of mathematics.

3. How is category theory used in other fields?

Category theory has applications in various fields such as computer science, physics, and linguistics. In computer science, it is used to study programming languages and software design. In physics, it has been used to study quantum mechanics and general relativity. In linguistics, it has been used to study the structure of languages.

4. What are some common examples of categories?

Some common examples of categories include the category of sets, the category of groups, and the category of topological spaces. These categories have objects that are sets or structures, and morphisms that are functions or structure-preserving maps between the objects.

5. Are there any recommended books on category theory for beginners?

Yes, some recommended books for beginners in category theory include "Category Theory in Context" by Emily Riehl, "Conceptual Mathematics: A First Introduction to Categories" by F. William Lawvere and Stephen H. Schanuel, and "Category Theory for the Sciences" by David I. Spivak. These books provide a gentle introduction to the subject with clear explanations and examples.