On Thu, 9 Aug 2012, Patrick Browne <patrick.bro...@dit.ie> wrote:


On 09/08/12, Jay Sulzberger <j...@panix.com> wrote:


      Here we are close to the distinction between a class of "objects
      which satisfy a condition" vs "objects with added structure",
      for
      which see:

      ? http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/qg-spring2004/discussion.html
      ? http://ncatlab.org/nlab/show/stuff,+structure,+property

      oo--JS.

This seems to be addressing my my? question, but I am not sure that I can
relate the above ideas to Haskell.

I am, perhaps too gingerly, looking at Haskell.  I have not yet
attempted to read the standard.  But from a distance (and this
addresses in part the question "Is it April Fool's Day?" in
response to my mild suggestion that category theory might be
applied to the relation between code-making and deployment of a
production system), looking at discussions by people who use
Haskell, a large scale effort must be made just to write down
even the most primitive approximations to these surely existing
functors:

1. the various functors between various categories with objects
types and with objects values

2. the various functors between various categories with objects
"programs in source code form", with objects "compiled programs",
with objects "running programs", and some categories that somehow
deal with "behaviors"

I am aware that I am ignorant of the literature which deals with
these things.

Below is my current (naive) understanding and some further question:

"objects which satisfy a condition"
Could these objects be models that have the same signature (instances in
Haskell).
Haskell type classes seem to be signature only (no equations, ignoring
default methods) so in general? they provide an empty theory with no logical
consequences.

"objects with added structure"
I am struggling with this concept both in general and in relation to the
hierarchy from my earlier posting.
Could this be "model expansion" where a theory describing an existing model
is enriched with additional axioms.
The enriched theory is then satisfied by models with more structure
(operations).
I am unsure about the size of this expanded model and the number of
potential expanded models.
Would a expanded model have less elements?
Would there be? fewer models for the enriched theory?

In relation to Haskell data types also have structure (constructors).
The data types can be used to build other data types (is this model
expansion?)
I am not sure if the model (instance) of a sub-class could be considered as
expanded model of its super-class.

I am not today enough up on the old Baez et al discussion.  I
hope to post something along this line when I know a bit more
Haskell, and after I have read again Baez et al.

For the record I now repeat what you already know.

I think good paradigm cases must be:

1. There is the category of groups.  A sub-category is the
   category of Abelian groups.

2. There is the category of rings.  The forgetful functor
   f: RO -> R, where RO is the category of ordered rings and R is category
   of rings, and f just "forgets" the cone of non-negative elements.

1. must be a case of "objects which satisfy a condition"; 2. must
be a case of "objects with added structure".



Your reply was very helpful
Thanks,
Pat

De nada and you are very welcome!

oo--JS.

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