English

The nine model category structures on the category of sets

Category Theory 2025-08-22 v1 Algebraic Topology Combinatorics

Abstract

We give a proof of the folklore theorem, attributed to Goodwillie, that there are precisely nine model structures on the category Set\mathsf{Set} of sets. This result is deduced from a complete study of lifting problems and the ensuing classification of all weak factorization systems on Set\mathsf{Set}. Moreover, we determine the Quillen equivalences between these model structures and exhibit an explicit example of equivalent model structures that cannot be realized by a single Quillen adjunction.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2508.15731,
  title  = {The nine model category structures on the category of sets},
  author = {Omar Antolín-Camarena and Tobias Barthel},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2508.15731},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

10 pages; all comments welcome