8.6.1 Self-Duality

The 2-/category of relations with apartness-composition-is self-dual:

  1. 1.

    Self-Duality I. We have an isomorphism

    \[ (\mathsf{Rel}^{\mathord {\mathbin {\square }}})^{\mathsf{op}}\cong \mathsf{Rel}^{\mathord {\mathbin {\square }}} \]

    of categories.

  2. 2.

    Self-Duality II. We have a 2-isomorphism

    \[ (\boldsymbol {\mathsf{Rel}}^{\mathord {\mathbin {\square }}})^{\mathsf{op}}\cong \boldsymbol {\mathsf{Rel}}^{\mathord {\mathbin {\square }}} \]

    of 2-categories.

Item 1: Self-Duality I
We claim that the functor

\[ (-)^{\dagger }\colon (\mathsf{Rel}^{\mathord {\mathbin {\square }}})^{\mathsf{op}}\to \mathsf{Rel}^{\mathord {\mathbin {\square }}} \]

given by the identity on objects and by $R\mapsto R^{\dagger }$ on morphisms is an isomorphism of categories. Note that this is indeed a functor by Item 4 and Item 7 of Proposition 8.1.5.1.3.

By Chapter 11: Categories, Item 1 of Proposition 11.6.8.1.3, it suffices to show that $(-)^{\dagger }$ is bijective on objects (which follows by definition) and fully faithful. Indeed, the map

\[ (-)^{\dagger }\colon \mathrm{Rel}(A,B)\to \mathrm{Rel}(B,A) \]

defined by the assignment $R\mapsto R^{\dagger }$ is a bijection by Item 5 of Proposition 8.1.5.1.3, showing $(-)^{\dagger }$ to be fully faithful.

Item 2: Self-Duality II
We claim that the 2-functor

\[ (-)^{\dagger }\colon \mathsf{Rel}^{\mathsf{op}}\to \mathsf{Rel} \]

given by the identity on objects, by $R\mapsto R^{\dagger }$ on morphisms, and by preserving inclusions on 2-morphisms via Item 1 of Proposition 8.1.5.1.3, is an isomorphism of categories.

By Unresolved reference, it suffices to show that $(-)^{\dagger }$ is:

  • Bijective on objects, which follows by definition.

  • Bijective on $1$-morphisms, which was shown in Item 1.

  • Bijective on 2-morphisms, which follows from Item 1 of Proposition 8.1.5.1.3.

Thus $(-)^{\dagger }$ is indeed a 2-isomorphism of categories.


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