Category theory for scientists (Old version)
Abstract
There are many books designed to introduce category theory to either a mathematical audience or a computer science audience. In this book, our audience is the broader scientific community. We attempt to show that category theory can be applied throughout the sciences as a framework for modeling phenomena and communicating results. In order to target the scientific audience, this book is example-based rather than proof-based. For example, monoids are framed in terms of agents acting on objects, sheaves are introduced with primary examples coming from geography, and colored operads are discussed in terms of their ability to model self-similarity. A new version with solutions to exercises will be available through MIT Press.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1302.6946,
title = {Category theory for scientists (Old version)},
author = {David I. Spivak},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1302.6946},
year = {2013}
}
Comments
267 pages, 5 chapters, 280 exercises, an index. This book was written as course notes for a special subjects Math class at MIT called "18-S996: Category Theory for scientists", taught in Spring 2013. The class had a diverse enrollment: At the end, the number of registered students was 18 = 7 undergrad + 11 grad = 5 math + 4 EECS + 3 physics + 3 engineering + 3 other