Re: Timelines for category theory: a response to comments

[Sergei SOLOVIEV <soloviev@irit.fr>]

I think that the list of topics is very good, and the idea seems to me
very reasonnable.

And with all my respect to Eduardo ("No censorship to wikipedia !") I
don't think
that everything should be reduced to mere opinions and freedom of speech
- there is
also the notion of truth. Supposedly, the above mentioned freedom should
help
to find it, at least, in science.

Best regards

Sergei Soloviev

Ronnie Brown wrote:
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> Many thanks for your comments, which show how our community sees the
> problem. The discussion is obviously not finished yet.
>
> Let us actually try to say what is the MAIN problem with this article.
> The main problem is the picture of category theory it draws! Many of you
> give courses in category theory at various levels - beautiful courses
> showing that category theory provides a new most advanced level of
> thinking in mathematics ("thinking categorically!"), and has made major
> contributions to the unity of mathematics. So, why don't you compare the
> plan of your own course with this article? Surely you do not begin your
> course with resolutions of modules and you do not end it with "extended
> TQFT", do you?
>
> On the other hand there is clearly a desire to have a good content  and
> context for category theory on wikipedia, which is often the first port
> of call for students, and those potentially interested, and so there are
> calls for an improved Timeline for category theory. To take in the whole
> subject in one timeline, with references, would seem an enormous and
> controversial task.
>
> We therefore propose that the present article be replaced by  a list of
> topics with links to articles on timelines of those topics. And then
> each "timeline" should be written by a chosen group of experts. Our
> first draft of topics would be:
>
> 1. General category theory, including motivation
> 2. Abelian categories and homological algebra
> 3. Categories and groupoids in homotopical algebra and algebraic topology
> 4. Topos theory
> 5. Monoidal, enriched, and higher-dimensional categories
> 6. Categorical algebra
> 7. Categorical topology
> 8. Categorical logic and foundation of mathematics
> 10. Categories in algebraic geometry
> 11. Categories in computer science
> 12. Categories in Physics
>
> There will be intersections of course, but we presume that is fine.
>
> As examples of timelines in other subjects, and their styles, see for
> example
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_timelines#Science
>
> particularly those on Physics.
>
> We look forward to reactions to this proposal.
>
> Ronnie Brown
>
> George Janelidze


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