# Kerodon

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### 7.2.7 Cofinal Approximation

Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ be an $\infty$-category. Recall that an object $X \in \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ is final if and only if the inclusion map $\{ X\} \hookrightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ is right cofinal (Corollary 7.1.2.10). If this condition is satisfied, then the $\infty$-category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ is filtered (Example 7.2.4.5). We now establish a generalization:

Proposition 7.2.7.1. Let $F: \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}\rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{D}}$ be a functor of $\infty$-categories. If $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ is filtered and $F$ is right cofinal, then $\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}$ is filtered.

Proof. We will show that the $\infty$-category $\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}$ satisfies conditions $(a)$ and $(b)$ of Corollary 7.2.6.3. Since $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ is weakly contractible (Proposition 7.2.4.9) and $F$ is a weak homotopy equivalence (Proposition 7.2.1.4), we deduce immediately that $\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}$ is weakly contractible. Suppose we are given left fibrations $U: \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}} \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{D}}$, $V_{0}: \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}}_{0} \rightarrow \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}}$, and $V_{1}: \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}}_{1} \rightarrow \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}}$, where the $\infty$-categories $\widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}}$, $\widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}}_{0}$, and $\widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}}_{1}$ are weakly contractible. We wish to show that the fiber product $\widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}}_{0} \times _{ \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}} } \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}}_{1}$ is also weakly contractible. Set $\widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} = \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}\times _{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}} \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}}$, and define $\widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}_{0}$ and $\widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}_{1}$ similarly. Applying Proposition 7.2.3.9, we deduce that the projection maps

$\widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}_{0} \rightarrow \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}}_{0} \quad \quad \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} \rightarrow \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}} \quad \quad \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}_{1} \rightarrow \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}}_{1}$

are right cofinal; in particular, they are weak homotopy equivalences (Proposition 7.2.4.9). It follows that the $\infty$-categories $\widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}$, $\widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}_{0}$, and $\widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}_{1}$ are weakly contractible. Since $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ is filtered, Corollary 7.2.6.3 guarantees that the fiber product $\widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}_{0} \times _{ \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} } \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}_{1}$ is weakly contractible. The projection map

$\widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}_{0} \times _{ \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} } \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}_{1} \rightarrow \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}}_{0} \times _{ \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}} } \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}}_{1}$

is also right cofinal (Proposition 7.2.3.9) and therefore a weak homotopy equivalence (Proposition 7.2.4.9). It follows that $\widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}}_{0} \times _{ \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}} } \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}}_{1}$ is also weakly contractible, as desired. $\square$

We now establish a partial converse of Proposition 7.2.7.1.

Theorem 7.2.7.2. Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ be an $\infty$-category. The following conditions are equivalent:

• The $\infty$-category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ is filtered.

• There exists a directed partially ordered set $(A,\leq )$ and a right cofinal functor $F: \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(A) \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$.

We first prove the following:

Lemma 7.2.7.3. Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ be a filtered $\infty$-category. Then there exists a trivial Kan fibration of simplicial sets $\pi : \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$, where $\widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}$ is an $\infty$-category having the following property:

$(\ast )$

For every finite simplicial subset $K \subseteq \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}$, the inclusion map $K \hookrightarrow \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}$ extends to a monomorphism $K^{\triangleright } \hookrightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$.

Proof. Let $J$ be an infinite set, and let $\operatorname{\mathcal{J}}$ be the corresponding indiscrete category (that is, the category having object set $\operatorname{Ob}(\operatorname{\mathcal{J}}) = J$ and $\operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{\mathcal{J}}}(j,j') = \ast$ for every pair of elements $j,j' \in J$). Then the nerve $\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(\operatorname{\mathcal{J}})$ is a contractible Kan complex. Setting $\widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} = \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(\operatorname{\mathcal{J}}) \times \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$, it follows that the projection map $\pi : \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ is a trivial Kan fibration. We will complete the proof by showing that $\widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}$ satisfies condition $(\ast )$. Let $K$ be a finite simplicial subset of $\widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}$, so that the inclusion map $K \hookrightarrow \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}$ can be identified with a pair of diagrams

$f: K \rightarrow \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(\operatorname{\mathcal{J}}) \quad \quad g: K \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}.$

Since $J$ is infinite, we can choose an element $j \in J$ which is not of the form $f(x)$ for any vertex $x \in K$. It follows that $f$ admits a unique extension $\overline{f}: K^{\triangleright } \rightarrow \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(\operatorname{\mathcal{J}})$ which carries the cone point of $K^{\triangleright }$ to the element $j \in J$. Our assumption that $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ is filtered guarantees that $g$ admits an extension $\overline{g}: K^{\triangleright } \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$. We complete the proof by observing that the pair $(\overline{f}, \overline{g} )$ determines a monomorphism of simplicial sets $K^{\triangleright } \rightarrow \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}$. $\square$

Proof of Theorem 7.2.7.2. Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ be a filtered $\infty$-category; we wish to show that there exists a directed partially ordered set $(A, \leq )$ and a right cofinal functor $\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(A) \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ (the reverse implication follows from Proposition 7.2.7.1 and Example 7.2.5.9). Choose a trivial Kan fibration $\pi : \widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ which satisfies condition $(\ast )$ of Lemma 7.2.7.3. Then $\pi$ is right cofinal (Corollary 7.2.1.11). Since the collection of right cofinal morphisms is closed under composition (Proposition 7.2.1.5), we can replace $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ by $\widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}$ and thereby reduce to proving Theorem 7.2.1.5 in the special case where the $\infty$-category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ satisfies condition $(\ast )$ of Lemma 7.2.7.3.

Let $A$ be the collection of all simplicial subsets $L \subseteq \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ which are isomorphic to $K^{\triangleright }$, for some finite simplicial set $K$. To avoid confusion, we use the symbol $\alpha$ to represent an element of $A$, and we will write $L_{\alpha }$ for the corresponding simplicial subset of $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$. By assumption, we can write $L_{\alpha }$ as a join $K_{\alpha } \star \{ C_{\alpha } \}$, where $K_{\alpha }$ is a finite simplicial subset of $\widetilde{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}}$ and $C_{\alpha }$ is an object of $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$.

Note that condition $(\ast )$ of Lemma 7.2.7.3 can be restated as follows:

• Every finite simplicial subset $K \subseteq \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ is equal to $K_{\alpha }$, for some element $\alpha \in A$.

Let us regard $A$ as a partially ordered set, where elements $\alpha ,\beta \in A$ satisfy $\alpha \leq \beta$ if and only if $L_{\alpha }$ is contained in $L_{\beta }$ (as simplicial subsets of $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$). If $A_0$ is any finite subset of $A$, it follows from $(\ast ')$ that we have $\bigcup _{\alpha \in A_0} L_{\alpha } = K_{\beta } \subset L_{\beta }$ for some element $\beta \in A$. In particular, we have $\alpha < \beta$ for each $\alpha \in A_0$. Allowing $A_0$ to vary, we conclude that the partially ordered set $A$ is directed.

To every $n$-simplex $\sigma = ( \alpha _0 \leq \cdots \leq \alpha _ n)$ of $\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(A)$, we associate an $n$-simplex $F(\sigma )$ of $L_{ \alpha _{n} } \subseteq \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ by the following recursive procedure:

• If $n=0$, so that $\sigma$ can be identified with an element $\alpha \in A$, then $F(\sigma )$ is the object $C_{\alpha } \in \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$.

• Suppose that $n > 0$, and let $\sigma ' = d_ n(\sigma )$ denote the $(n-1)$-simplex $( \alpha _0 \leq \cdots \leq \alpha _{n-1} )$ of $\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(A)$. Then $F(\sigma )$ is the unique $n$-simplex $\Delta ^{n} \rightarrow L_{ \alpha _{n} }$ whose restriction to $\Delta ^{n-1}$ coincides with $F(\sigma ')$ and which carries vertex $n \in \Delta ^ n$ to the cone point $C_{\alpha _ n} \in L_{\alpha _ n}$.

Regarding each $F(\sigma )$ as a simplex of the $\infty$-category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$, we observe that the construction $\sigma \mapsto F(\sigma )$ is compatible with face and degeneracy operators and therefore determines a functor of $\infty$-categories $F: \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(A) \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$.

We will complete the proof by showing that the functor $F$ is right cofinal. To verify this, we will use the criterion of Theorem 7.2.3.1. Let $C$ be an object of $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$; we wish to show that the $\infty$-category $\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(A) \times _{ \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{C/}$ is weakly contractible. We will prove something a bit stronger: the $\infty$-category $\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(A) \times _{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{C/}$ is filtered (this is sufficient, by virtue of Proposition 7.2.4.9). To prove this, let $S$ be any finite simplicial set and suppose that we are given a diagram $g: S \rightarrow \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(A) \times _{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{C/}$; we wish to show that $g$ can be extended to a morphism $\overline{g}: S^{\triangleright } \rightarrow \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(A) \times _{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{C/}$. Unwinding the definitions, we can identify $g$ with a pair of diagrams

$g_0: S \rightarrow \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(A) \quad \quad g_1: S^{\triangleleft } \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$

satisfying $g_1|_{S} = F \circ g_0$, where $g_1$ carries the cone point of $S^{\triangleleft }$ to the object $C \in \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$. Note that the union $K = \operatorname{im}( g_1 ) \cup \bigcup _{s \in S} L_{ g_0(s) }$ is a finite simplicial subset of $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$. Since $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ satisfies condition $(\ast )$ of Lemma 7.2.7.3, we can write $K = K_{\alpha }$ for some element $\alpha \in A$. Since the image of $g_{1}$ is contained in $K_{\alpha }$, it admits a canonical extension

$\overline{g}_{1}: ( S^{\triangleleft } )^{\triangleright } \rightarrow K_{\alpha }^{\triangleright } = L_{\alpha } \subseteq \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}.$

Similarly, the inclusion $L_{ g_0(s) } \subseteq K_{\alpha } \subset L_{\alpha }$ guarantees that $g_0$ can be extended uniquely to a morphism $\overline{g}_{0}: S^{\triangleright } \rightarrow \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(A)$ carrying the cone point of $S^{\triangleright }$ to the element $\alpha \in A$. We conclude by observing that the pair $( \overline{g}_0, \overline{g}_1 )$ determines a diagram $\overline{g}: S^{\triangleright } \rightarrow \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(A) \times _{\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}} \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{C/}$ satisfying $\overline{g}|_{S} = g$. $\square$

We close this section by recording another consequence of Lemma 7.2.7.3.

Proposition 7.2.7.4. Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ be an $\infty$-category. The following conditions are equivalent:

$(1)$

There exists a filtered diagram of simplicial sets $\{ \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\alpha } \}$, where each $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\alpha }$ is an $\infty$-category with a final object, and an equivalence of $\infty$-categories $F: \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}\rightarrow \varinjlim _{\alpha } \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\alpha }$.

$(2)$

There exists a filtered diagram of simplicial sets $\{ \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\alpha } \}$, where each $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\alpha }$ is a filtered $\infty$-category, and an equivalence of $\infty$-categories $F: \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}\rightarrow \varinjlim _{\alpha } \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\alpha }$.

$(3)$

There exists an equivalence of $\infty$-categories $F: \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}\rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}'$, where $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}'$ is filtered.

$(4)$

The $\infty$-category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ is filtered.

Proof. The implication $(1) \Rightarrow (2)$ follows from Example 7.2.4.5, the implication $(2) \Rightarrow (3)$ from Remark 7.2.4.6, and the implication $(3) \Rightarrow (4)$ from Corollary 7.2.4.11. We will complete the proof by showing that every filtered $\infty$-category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ satisfies condition $(1)$. Without loss of generality, we may assume that $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ satisfies condition $(\ast )$ of Lemma 7.2.7.3. Let $A$ be the directed partially ordered set defined in the proof of Theorem 7.2.7.2. For each $\alpha \in A$, let $L_{\alpha } \subseteq \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ denote the corresponding subset of $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$. By virtue of Corollary 4.1.3.3, we can choose an $\infty$-category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\alpha }$ and an inner anodyne morphism $F_{\alpha }: L_{\alpha } \hookrightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\alpha }$, which depend functorially on $\alpha$. Applying Corollary 4.5.4.2, we see that the morphisms $F_{\alpha }$ induce an equivalence of $\infty$-categories

$\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}\simeq \varinjlim _{\alpha \in A} L_{\alpha } \xrightarrow { \{ F_{\alpha } \} _{\alpha \in A} } \varinjlim _{\alpha \in A} \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\alpha }.$

To complete the proof, it will suffice to show that each of the $\infty$-categories $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\alpha }$ contains a final object. By construction, there exists an isomorphism of simplicial sets $u: L_{\alpha } \simeq K^{\triangleright }$, for some finite simplicial set $K$. Using Corollary 4.1.3.3, we can choose a categorical equivalence $v: K \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{D}}$, where $\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}$ is an $\infty$-category. Applying Corollary 4.5.5.9, we deduce that the map $v^{\triangleright }: K^{\triangleright } \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{D}}^{\triangleright }$ is also a categorical equivalence of simplicial sets. Since $F_{\alpha }$ is inner anodyne, there exists a functor $G: \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\alpha } \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{D}}^{\triangleright }$ satisfying $G \circ F_{\alpha } = v^{\triangleright } \circ u$. Applying the two-out-of-three property (Remark 4.5.2.5), we see that $G$ is an equivalence of $\infty$-categories. Since the $\infty$-category $\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}^{\triangleright }$ has a final object (given by the cone point; see Example 7.1.1.5), it follows that $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_{\alpha }$ also has a final object (Corollary 7.1.1.22). $\square$