The Integers in Homotopy Type Theory

Thorsten Altenkirch

University of Nottingham




Abstract: Homotopy Type Theory (HoTT) is a foundational approach to Mathematics based on Martin-Löf’s Type Theory and Voevodsky’s univalence principle. It addresses the fundamental mismatch between equivalence and equality by identifying the two. However, there is a price to pay if we want our definitions to interact well with higher order structures.
I will give a general overview over HoTT focussing on motivations and then discuss the definition of the integers or more general of free groups over a set as an example of how to address coherence issues that emerge in HoTT. I will also discuss other related questions such as HoTT in HoTT.
The talk is based on joint work with Luis Scoccola.