E extracta mathematicae Vol. 25, N´um.2, 103 { 149 (2010) The Hitchhiker Guide to Categorical Banach Space Theory. Part I. Jesus M. F. Castillo ∗ Departamento de Matem´aticas, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
[email protected] Received June 1, 2010 Abstract: What has category theory to offer to Banach spacers? In this survey-like paper we will focus on some of the five basic elements of category theory {namely, i) The definition of category, functor and natural transformation; ii) Limits and colimits; iii) Adjoint functors; plus a naive presentation of Kan extensions{ to support the simplest answer \tools that work and a point of view that helps to understand problems, even if one does not care at all about categories". Homology will be treated in a second part. Key words: Categorical Banach space theory, universal constructions, duality and adjoint- ness. AMS Subject Class. (2000): 46Mxx, 18-02, 46-02. 1. Prologue Functional analysis, in general, and Banach space theory, in particular, are unthinkable outside the ambient of algebraic structures. In fact, functional analysis can be defined as the blend of algebra and topology. One of the major achievements of mathematics in the XXth century is category theory, whose paramount importance comes from the fact of establishing a common language for all mathematics. Indeed, it becomes easier for mathematicians working in different areas to communicate if they are able to identify their basic construc- tions, knowing that certain objects of their disciplines are particular instances of the same concept. And the only part of mathematics able today to provide such common language is categorical algebra.