Path Types in Algebraic Type Theory

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Awodey, Steve, Hua, Joseph
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Awodey, Steve
Hua, Joseph
author_facet Awodey, Steve
Hua, Joseph
contents A new approach to the semantics of identity types in intensional Martin-Löf type theory is proposed, assuming only a category with finite limits and an interval. The specification of \emph{extensional} identity types in the original presentation of natural models paralleled that of the other type formers $Σ$ and $Π$, but the treatment of the \emph{intensional} case there was less uniform. It was later reformulated to an account based on polynomials; here a further improvement in the style of the other type formers is achieved by employing an interval, in order to give a single pullback specification of a model with \emph{path types}. The interval is also used to specify a (Hurewicz) fibration structure on the universe of the model. It is shown that the combination of these two conditions suffices to model the intensional identity rules, assuming only finite limits. The addition of an interval also relates the current treatment to that of cubical type theory.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_06567
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Path Types in Algebraic Type Theory
Awodey, Steve
Hua, Joseph
Category Theory
Algebraic Topology
Logic
A new approach to the semantics of identity types in intensional Martin-Löf type theory is proposed, assuming only a category with finite limits and an interval. The specification of \emph{extensional} identity types in the original presentation of natural models paralleled that of the other type formers $Σ$ and $Π$, but the treatment of the \emph{intensional} case there was less uniform. It was later reformulated to an account based on polynomials; here a further improvement in the style of the other type formers is achieved by employing an interval, in order to give a single pullback specification of a model with \emph{path types}. The interval is also used to specify a (Hurewicz) fibration structure on the universe of the model. It is shown that the combination of these two conditions suffices to model the intensional identity rules, assuming only finite limits. The addition of an interval also relates the current treatment to that of cubical type theory.
title Path Types in Algebraic Type Theory
topic Category Theory
Algebraic Topology
Logic
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.06567