Type space functors and interpretations in positive logic

Abstract

We construct a 2-equivalence \(\mathfrak {CohTheory}^{op }\simeq \mathfrak {TypeSpaceFunc}\). Here \(\mathfrak {CohTheory}\) is the 2-category of positive theories and \(\mathfrak {TypeSpaceFunc}\) is the 2-category of type space functors. We give a precise definition of interpretations for positive logic, which will be the 1-cells in \(\mathfrak {CohTheory}\). The 2-cells are definable homomorphisms. The 2-equivalence restricts to a duality of categories, making precise the philosophy that a theory is ‘the same’ as the collection of its type spaces (i.e. its type space functor). In characterising those functors that arise as type space functors, we find that they are specific instances of (coherent) hyperdoctrines. This connects two different schools of thought on the logical structure of a theory. The key ingredient, the Deligne completeness theorem, arises from topos theory, where positive theories have been studied under the name of coherent theories.