Chapter 8

Continuous Theories

In the first three sections of this chapter we consider theories whose

hom-sets are equipped with a partial order which is compatible with
the theory operations; iteration is defined using least fixed points. An
ordered theory is a special kind of 2-theory, one in which there is a ver-
tical morphism f -+ 9 iff f ~ 9. In Section 4, the connection between
initiality and the fixed point properties of iteration is examined in the
context of 2-theories. We consider the properties of initial f-algebras,
for horizontal morphisms f in a 2-theory. Many properties of iteration
theories hold when all such initial algebras exist. In the last section,
some of the constructions for w-continuous ordered theories are gener-
alized to w-continuous 2-theories. In particular, it is shown how any
w-continuous 2-theory determines an iteration theory.

1 Ordered Algebraic Theories

We begin with some definitions.

Definition 1.1 • An ordered algebraic theory T is an alge-

braic theory such that for each pair n,p of nonnegative integers,
the set T(n,p) is equipped with a partial order. The order on
T(n,p) will be written f ~ 9 : n -+ p. The theory operations
respect the ordering, i.e. if !I ~ h : n -+ p and 91 ~ 92 : P -+ q

S. L. Bloom et al., Iteration Theories

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1993
244 Chapter 8. Continuous Theories

then
h 'gl ~ h ·g2·
Further, if Ii ~ gi : 1 --+ p, for each i E [n], then

• A pointed ordered theory is an ordered theory which is point-

ed; i.e. there is a distinguished morphism 1. : 1 --+ 0; as usual,
we define 1.1p as 1.. Op, for all p ~ 0, and 1.np as (J-lp, ... ,1.1p),
for n t- 1. Furthermore, the morphisms 1. np are the least ele-
ments in T(n,p). Note that composition in pointed theories is
left strict:
..L np • f = 1.nq,
for all f : p --+ q.

• A strict ordered theory is a pointed ordered theory in which

composition is right strict, i.e.

for all f : n --+ p.

• An ordered theory morphism ep : T --+ T' is a theory mor-

phism which preserves the ordering; i.e. if f ~ g : n --+ p in T,
then fep ~ gep in T'.

• A pointed ordered theory morphism is an ordered theory

morphism which also preserves the distinguished elements; i.e.
for all n, p, 1.npep = 1. np .

Exercise 1.2 Show that an ordered theory morphism I{) between pointed
ordered theories is a pointed ordered theory morphism iff .1 10 1{) = .110' Thus
morphisms of pointed ordered theories are pointed theory morphisms as de-
fined in Section 3.5.

Exercise 1.3 Show that in any ordered theory, the order relation is deter-
mined by the order on the scalar morphisms, in that

f $ g: n -+ p ¢} in' f $ in' g, all i E [n].