# Kerodon

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### 8.1.6 Cospans in $\infty$-Categories

Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ be an $\infty$-category, and let $\operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$ denote the simplicial set of cospans in $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ (Construction 8.1.4.1). In the special case where $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}= \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_0 )$ is the nerve of an ordinary category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_0$ which admits pushouts, Corollary 8.1.4.12 supplies an isomorphism of $\operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$ with the Duskin nerve of the $2$-category $\operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}_0 )$ of Example 2.2.2.1. In particular, $\operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$ is an $(\infty ,2)$-category (see Proposition 5.5.1.7). Our goal in this section is to prove an $\infty$-categorical generalization of this result.

Proposition 8.1.6.1. Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ be an $\infty$-category. Then the simplicial set $\operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$ is an $(\infty ,2)$-category if and only if $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ admits pushouts.

Our proof of Proposition 8.1.6.1 will require several steps. The main ingredient is the following characterization of thin $2$-simplices of $\operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$, which we will establish in §8.1.7:

Proposition 8.1.6.2. Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ be an $\infty$-category and let $\sigma$ be a $2$-simplex of $\operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$, which we identify with a diagram

8.10
$$\begin{gathered}\label{equation:thin-in-correspondence} \xymatrix@R =50pt@C=50pt{ X_{0,0} \ar [dr] & & X_{1,1} \ar [dr] \ar [dl] & & X_{2,2} \ar [dl] \\ & X_{0,1} \ar [dr] & & X_{1,2} \ar [dl] & \\ & & X_{0,2} & & } \end{gathered}$$

in the $\infty$-category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$. Then $\sigma$ is thin (in the sense of Definition 2.3.2.3) if and only if the inner region is a pushout square in the $\infty$-category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$.

Corollary 8.1.6.3. Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ be an $\infty$-category. Then every degenerate $2$-simplex of $\operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$ is thin.

Proof. Let $\sigma$ be a $1$-simplex of $\operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$, corresponding to a diagram $X \xrightarrow {f} B \xleftarrow {g} Y$ in the $\infty$-category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$. We will show that the left-degenerate $2$-simplex $s_0(\sigma )$ is thin; a similar argument will show that the right-degenerate $2$-simplex $s_1(\sigma )$ is thin (see Remark 8.1.4.4). Unwinding the definitions, we see that $s_0(\sigma )$ corresponds to a diagram in $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ of the form

$\xymatrix@R =50pt@C=50pt{ X \ar [dr]_{\operatorname{id}_ X} & & X \ar [dl]^{\operatorname{id}_ X} \ar [dr]_{f} & & Y \ar [dl]^{g} \\ & X \ar [dr]_{f} & & B \ar [dl]^{ \operatorname{id}_ B } & \\ & & B. & & }$

By virtue of Proposition 8.1.6.2, it will suffice to show that the inner region of the diagram is a pushout square in $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$. This follows from Proposition 7.6.3.15, since $\operatorname{id}_{B}$ and $\operatorname{id}_{X}$ are isomorphisms in $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$. $\square$

Corollary 8.1.6.4. Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ be an $\infty$-category and let $\sigma _0: \Lambda ^{2}_{1} \rightarrow \operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$ be a morphism, which we identify with a diagram

8.11
$$\begin{gathered}\label{equation:thin-filler-in-Corr} \xymatrix@C =50pt@R=50pt{ X_{0,0} \ar [dr] & & X_{1,1} \ar [dl] \ar [dr] & & X_{2,2} \ar [dl] \\ & X_{0,1} & & X_{1,2} & } \end{gathered}$$

in the $\infty$-category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$. Then $\sigma _0$ can be extended to a thin $2$-simplex $\sigma : \Delta ^2 \rightarrow \operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$ if and only if there exists a pushout $X_{0,1}$ with $X_{1,2}$ along $X_{1,1}$ in the $\infty$-category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$.

Proof. By virtue of Proposition 8.1.6.2, any extension of $\sigma _0$ to a thin $2$-simplex of $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ determines a pushout of $X_{0,1}$ with $X_{1,2}$ over $X_{1,1}$. To prove the converse, let us identify $\operatorname{Tw}( \Delta ^2 )$ with the simplicial set $\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(Q)$, where $\overline{Q}$ denotes the partially ordered set $\{ (i,j) \in [2]^{\operatorname{op}} \times [2]: i \leq j \}$. Under this identification, $\operatorname{Tw}( \Lambda ^{2}_{1} )$ corresponds to the simplicial subset $\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(Q) \subseteq \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }( \overline{Q} )$, where $Q = \overline{Q} \setminus \{ (0,2) \}$; in particular, we can identify (8.11) with a morphism of simplicial sets $\tau : \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(Q) \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$. Set $Q_0 = Q \setminus \{ (0,0), (2,2) \}$ and $\tau _0 = \tau |_{ \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(Q_0) }$.

Assume that $X_{0,1}$ and $X_{1,2}$ admit a pushout along $X_{1,1}$: that is, the diagram $\tau _0$ has a colimit in $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$. Note that the inclusion map $Q_0 \hookrightarrow Q$ has a left adjoint (given by $(0,0) \mapsto (0,1)$ and $(2,2) \mapsto (1,2)$), and therefore induces a right cofinal morphism of simplicial sets $\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(Q_0) \hookrightarrow \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(Q)$ (Corollary 7.2.3.7). Applying Corollary 7.2.2.10, we deduce that $\tau$ can be extended to a colimit diagram

$\overline{\tau }: \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(Q)^{\triangleright } \simeq \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(\overline{Q} ) \simeq \operatorname{Tw}( \Delta ^2) \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}},$

which we can identify with a $2$-simplex $\sigma : \Delta ^2 \rightarrow \operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$ satisfying $\sigma |_{ \Lambda ^{2}_{1}} = \sigma _0$. Applying Corollary 7.2.2.3, we see that $\overline{\tau }|_{ \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(Q_0)^{\triangleright } }$ is also a colimit diagram in $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$, so that $\sigma$ is thin by virtue of Proposition 8.1.6.2. $\square$

Remark 8.1.6.5. Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ be an $\infty$-category and suppose we are given a morphism of simplicial sets $\varphi : \operatorname{Tw}( \Delta ^2 ) \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$, which we display as a diagram

$\xymatrix@R =50pt@C=50pt{ X_{0,0} \ar [dr] & & X_{1,1} \ar [dl] \ar [dr] & & X_{2,2} \ar [dl] \\ & X_{0,1} \ar [dr] & & X_{1,2} \ar [dl] & \\ & & X_{0,2}. & & }$

The proof of Corollary 8.1.6.4 shows that $\varphi$ is a colimit diagram if and only if the inner region is a pushout square.

We now study the problem of filling outer horns in the simplicial set $\operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$.

Lemma 8.1.6.6. Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ be an $\infty$-category and let $\sigma _0: \Lambda ^{n}_{0} \rightarrow \operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$ be a morphism of simplicial sets. Assume that $n \geq 3$ and that the composite map

$\Delta ^2 \simeq \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }( \{ 0 < 1 < n \} ) \hookrightarrow \Lambda ^{n}_{0} \xrightarrow {\sigma _0} \operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$

is a left-degenerate $2$-simplex of $\operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$ (Definition 5.5.1.1). Then $\sigma _0$ can be extended to an $n$-simplex of $\operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$.

Proof. Using Proposition 8.1.4.7, we can identify $\sigma _0$ with a morphism of simplicial sets $F_0: \operatorname{Tw}( \Lambda ^{n}_{0}) \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$; we wish to show that $F_0$ can be extended to a morphism of simplicial sets $\operatorname{Tw}( \Delta ^ n ) \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$. Let $P$ denote the set of all ordered pairs $(i,j)$, where $i$ and $j$ are integers satisfying $0 \leq i \leq j \leq n$. We regard $P$ as a partially ordered set by identifying it with its image in the product $[n]^{\operatorname{op}} \times [n]$ (so that $(i,j) \leq (i',j')$ if and only if $i' \leq i$ and $j \leq j'$). In what follows, we will identify $\operatorname{Tw}( \Delta ^ n )$ with the nerve $\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(P)$; under this identification, $\operatorname{Tw}( \Lambda ^{n}_{0} )$ corresponds to a simplicial subset $K_0 \subseteq \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(P)$.

Let $S = \{ (i_0, j_0) < (i_1, j_1) < \cdots < (i_ d, j_ d) \}$ be a nonempty linearly ordered subset of $P$, so that we have inequalities $0 \leq i_ d \leq i_{d-1} \leq \cdots \leq i_0 \leq j_0 \leq j_{1} \leq \cdots \leq j_ d \leq n$. In this case, we write $\tau _{S}$ for the corresponding nondegenerate $d$-simplex of $\operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(P)$. We will say that $S$ is basic if $\tau _ S$ is contained in $K_0$. Equivalently, $S$ is basic if the set $\{ i_0, i_1, \cdots , i_ d, j_0, j_1, \cdots , j_ d \}$ does not contain $\{ 1 < 2 < \cdots < n \}$. If $S$ is not basic, we let $\mathrm{pr}(S)$ denote the largest integer $j$ such that $S$ contains the pair $(i,j)$ for some $i \neq 0$. If no such integer exists, we define $\mathrm{pr}(S) = 0$. We will refer to $\mathrm{pr}(S)$ as the priority of $S$. We say that $S$ is prioritized if it is not basic and contains the pair $(0, \mathrm{pr}(S) )$.

Let $\{ S_1, S_2, \cdots , S_ m \}$ be an enumeration of the collection of all prioritized linearly ordered subsets of $P$ which satisfies the following conditions:

• The sequence of priorities $\mathrm{pr}(S_1), \mathrm{pr}(S_2), \cdots , \mathrm{pr}( S_ m)$ is nondecreasing. That is, if $1 \leq k \leq \ell \leq m$, then we have $\mathrm{pr}( S_{k} ) \leq \mathrm{pr}(S_{\ell })$.

• If $\mathrm{pr}( S_{k} ) = \mathrm{pr}( S_{\ell } )$ for $k \leq \ell$, then $| S_{k} | \leq | S_{\ell } |$.

For $1 \leq \ell \leq m$, let $\tau _{\ell } \subseteq \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(P)$ denote the simplex $\tau _{S_{\ell }}$ and let $K_{\ell } \subseteq \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(P)$ denote the union of $K_0$ with the simplices $\{ \tau _1, \tau _2, \cdots , \tau _{\ell } \}$, so that we have inclusion maps

$K_0 \hookrightarrow K_1 \hookrightarrow K_{2} \hookrightarrow \cdots \hookrightarrow K_{m}.$

We claim that $K_ m = \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(P)$: that is, $K_ m$ contains $\tau _{S}$ for every nonempty linearly ordered subset $S \subseteq P$. If $S$ is basic, there is nothing to prove. We may therefore assume that $S$ has priority $p$ for some integer $p \geq 0$. The union $S \cup \{ (0,p) \}$ is then a prioritized linearly ordered subset of $P$, and therefore coincides with $S_{\ell }$ for some $1 \leq \ell \leq m$. In this case, we have $\tau _{S} \subseteq \tau _{\ell } \subseteq K_{\ell } \subseteq K_ m$.

We will complete the proof by constructing a compatible sequence of maps $F_{\ell }: K_{\ell } \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ extending $F_0$. Fix an integer $1 \leq \ell \leq m$, and suppose that $F_{\ell -1}$ has already been constructed. Write $S_{\ell } = \{ (i_0, j_0) < (i_1, j_1) < \cdots < (i_ d, j_ d) \}$, so that the simplex $\tau _{\ell }$ has dimension $d$. Let $p$ be the priority of $S_{\ell }$. Since $S_{\ell }$ is prioritized, it contains $(0,p)$; we can therefore write $(0,p) = (i_{ d' }, j_{d'} )$ for some integer $0 \leq d' \leq d$. Let $L \subseteq \Delta ^ d$ denote the inverse image of $K_{\ell -1}$ under the map $\tau _{\ell }: \Delta ^{d} \rightarrow \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }(P)$, so that we have a pushout diagram of simplicial sets

$\xymatrix@R =50pt@C=50pt{ L \ar [r] \ar [d] & K_{\ell -1} \ar [d] \\ \Delta ^{d} \ar [r]^-{ \tau _{\ell } } & K_{\ell }. }$

We claim that $L$ coincides with the horn $\Lambda ^{d}_{d'}$. This can be stated more concretely as follows:

$(\ast )$

Let $(i,j)$ be an element of $S_{\ell }$, and set $S' = S_{\ell } \setminus \{ (i,j) \}$. Then the simplex $\tau _{S'}$ is contained in $K_{\ell -1}$ if and only if $(i,j) \neq (0,p)$.

We first prove $(\ast )$ in the case where $(i,j) \neq (0,p)$; in this case, we wish to show that $\tau _{S'}$ is contained in $K_{\ell -1}$. If $S'$ is basic, then $\tau _{S'}$ is contained in $K_0$ and there is nothing to prove. Let us therefore assume that $S'$ is not basic. Let $p' = \mathrm{pr}(S')$ denote the priority of $S'$. Then the union $S' \cup \{ (0,p') \}$ is a prioritized subset of $P$, and therefore has the form $S_{k}$ for some $1 \leq k \leq m$. By construction, we have $\mathrm{pr}(S_ k) = p' \leq p = \mathrm{pr}( S_{\ell } )$. Moreover, if $p' = p$, then our assumption $(i,j) \neq (0,p)$ guarantees that $S_ k = S'$, so that $| S_{k} | < | S_{\ell } |$. It follows that $k < \ell$, so that we have $\tau _{S'} \subseteq \tau _ k \subseteq K_{k} \subseteq K_{\ell -1}$.

We now prove $(\ast )$ in the case $(i,j) = (0,p)$; in this case, we wish to show that $\tau _{S'}$ is not contained in $K_{\ell -1}$. Assume otherwise. Then, since $S'$ is not basic, it is contained in $S_{k}$ for some $k < \ell$. The inequalities

$p = \mathrm{pr}(S') \leq \mathrm{pr}( S_ k ) \leq \mathrm{pr}( S_{\ell } ) = p.$

ensure that $S_{k}$ has priority $p$. Since $S_{k}$ is prioritized, it contains $(0,p)$, and therefore contains the union $S_{\ell } = S' \cup \{ (0,p) \}$. The inequality $|S_ k | \leq | S_{\ell } |$ then forces $k = \ell$, contradicting our assumption that $k < \ell$. This completes the proof of $(\ast )$.

Let $\rho _0$ denote the composite map $\Lambda ^{d}_{d'} = L \xrightarrow { \tau _{\ell } } K_{\ell -1} \xrightarrow { F_{\ell -1} } \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$. To complete the proof, it will suffice to show that $\rho _0$ can be extended to a $d$-simplex of $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$. We consider three cases:

• If $0 < d' < d$, then $\Lambda ^{d}_{d'}$ is an inner horn of $\Delta ^{d}$, so that $\rho _0$ admits an extension $\rho : \Delta ^ d \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ by virtue of our assumption that $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ is an $\infty$-category.

• Suppose that $d' = 0$: that is, the pair $(0,p)$ is the smallest element of $S_{\ell }$. Then $S_{\ell }$ does not contain any pairs $(i,j)$ with $i \neq 0$, so we have $p = 0$. Since the set $S_{\ell }$ is not basic, we must have

$S_{\ell } = \{ (0,0) < (0,1) < \cdots < (0,n-1) < (0,n) \} .$

Our assumption that $\sigma _0 |_{ \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }( \{ 0 < 1 \} }$ is a degenerate edge of $\operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$ guarantees that $F_0(0,1) \rightarrow F_0(0,0)$ is an identity morphism of $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$. In particular, it is an isomorphism in $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$, so that $\rho _0$ admits an extension $\rho : \Delta ^{d} \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ by virtue of Theorem 4.4.2.6.

• Suppose that $d' = d$: that is, the pair $(0,p)$ is the largest element of $S_{\ell }$. Our assumption that $S_{\ell }$ is not basic then guarantees that $p =n$ and $(1,n) = S_{\ell }$: that is, we have $S_{\ell } = \{ (i_0, j_0) < (i_1, j_1) < \cdots < (1,n) < (0,n) \}$. Our assumption that $\sigma _0 |_{ \operatorname{N}_{\bullet }( \{ 0 < 1 < n \} )}$ is left-degenerate guarantees that $F_0(1,n) \rightarrow F_0(0,n)$ is an identity morphism of $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$. In particular, it is an isomorphism in $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$, so that $\rho _0$ admits an extension $\rho : \Delta ^{d} \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ by virtue of Theorem 4.4.2.6.

$\square$

Proof of Proposition 8.1.6.1. Let $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ be an $\infty$-category. By virtue of Corollary 8.1.6.3 and Lemma 8.1.6.6, the simplicial set $\operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$ satisfies conditions $(2)$ and $(3)$ of Definition 5.5.1.3. Since $\operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$ is isomorphic to its opposite $\operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})^{\operatorname{op}}$ (Remark 8.1.4.4), it also satisfies condition $(4)$ of Definition 5.5.1.3. It follows that $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ is an $(\infty ,2)$-category if and only if it satisfies the following condition:

$(\ast )$

Every morphism of simplicial sets $\sigma _0: \Lambda ^{2}_{1} \rightarrow \operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$ can be extended to a thin $2$-simplex $\sigma : \operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$.

Using Corollary 8.1.6.4, we can rewrite condition $(\ast )$ as follows:

$(\ast ')$

For every diagram

$\xymatrix@C =50pt@R=50pt{ X \ar [dr] & & Y \ar [dr] \ar [dl] & & Z \ar [dl] \\ & B & & C & }$

in the $\infty$-category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$, there exists a pushout of $B$ and $C$ along $Y$.

It is clear that if the $\infty$-category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ admits pushouts, then it satisfies condition $(\ast ')$. The converse follows by applying condition $(\ast ')$ to diagrams of the form

$\xymatrix@C =50pt@R=50pt{ X \ar [dr]_{\operatorname{id}_ X} & & Y \ar [dr] \ar [dl] & & Z \ar [dl]^{\operatorname{id}_ Z} \\ & X & & Z & }$
$\square$

Corollary 8.1.6.7. Let $F: \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}\rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{D}}$ be a functor of $\infty$-categories, where $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ and $\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}$ admit pushouts. The following conditions are equivalent:

$(1)$

The functor $F$ carries pushout squares in $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ to pushout squares in $\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}$.

$(2)$

The induced map $\operatorname{Cospan}(F): \operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}) \rightarrow \operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{D}})$ is a functor of $(\infty ,2)$-categories, in the sense of Definition 5.5.7.1.

Proof. The implication $(1) \Rightarrow (2)$ follows immediately from the criterion of Proposition 8.1.6.2. For the converse implication, suppose that $\operatorname{Cospan}(F): \operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}) \rightarrow \operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{D}})$ is a functor of $2$-categories, and let $\sigma : \Delta ^1 \times \Delta ^1 \rightarrow \operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$ be a pushout square, which we display as a diagram

$\xymatrix@R =50pt@C=50pt{ X \ar [r] \ar [d] & X_0 \ar [d] \\ X_1 \ar [r] & X_{01}. }$

Let $\rho : \operatorname{Tw}( \Delta ^2 ) \rightarrow \Delta ^1 \times \Delta ^1$ denote the morphism of simplicial sets given on vertices by the formula $\rho (i,j) = (\max (0, 1-i) , \max (0,j-1) )$. Then $\sigma \circ \rho$ can be identified with a $2$-simplex $\tau$ of $\operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$, corresponding to a diagram

$\xymatrix@R =50pt@C=50pt{ X_0 \ar [dr]_{\operatorname{id}} & & X \ar [dl] \ar [dr] & & X_1 \ar [dl]^{\operatorname{id}} \\ & X_0 \ar [dr] & & X_1 \ar [dl] \\ & & X_{01} & & }$

in the $\infty$-category $\operatorname{\mathcal{C}}$. It follows from the criterion of Proposition 8.1.6.2 that $\tau$ is a thin $2$-simplex of $\operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{C}})$. If $\operatorname{Cospan}(F)$ is a functor of $(\infty ,2)$-categories, then it carries $\tau$ to a thin $2$-simplex of $\operatorname{Cospan}(\operatorname{\mathcal{D}})$. Applying the criterion of Proposition 8.1.6.2 again, we conclude that $F(\sigma )$ is a pushout square in $\operatorname{\mathcal{D}}$. $\square$