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Whitehead theorem

Classical case

The classical Whitehead theorem asserts that

Theorem (Whitehead)

Every weak homotopy equivalence between CW-complexes is a homotopy equivalence.

(See also the discussion at m-cofibrant space).

Using the homotopy hypothesis-theorem this may be reformulated:

Corollary

In the (∞,1)-category ∞Grpd every weak homotopy equivalence is a homotopy equivalence.

Simplicial version

Theorem

A simplicial map $f\colon X\to Y$ between Kan complexes is a simplicial homotopy equivalence? if and only if for any $a$ and $b$ that make the following square commute

$$\array{ \partial\Delta^n&\stackrel{a}{\to}&X\\ \downarrow^\iota&{}^{\exists d}\nearrow&\downarrow^f\\ \Delta^n &\stackrel{b}{\to}&Y\\ }$$

there is a diagonal arrow $d$ that makes the upper triangle commutative and the lower triangle commutative up to a homotopy $h\colon \Delta^1\times\Delta^n\to Y$ that is constant on the boundary $\Delta^1\times\partial\Delta^n$.

Of course, this statement can be reformulated using homotopy groups like the version for topological spaces, but the above statement is more practical.

If $X$ or $Y$ is not a Kan complex, one can formulate a similar criterion using barycentric subdivisions of $\partial\Delta^n$ and $\Delta^n$.

Equivariant version

In $G$-equivariant homotopy theory the statement is that $G$-homotopy equivalences between G-CW complexes are equivalent to maps that are weak homotopy equivalences on fixed point spaces for all closed subgroups (e.g. Greenlees-May 95, theorem 2.4). See at equivariant Whitehead theorem.

In general $(\infty,1)$-toposes

There is a notion of homotopy groups for objects in every ∞-stack (∞,1)-topos, as described at homotopy group (of an ∞-stack). Accordingly, there is a notion of weak homotopy equivalence in every ∞-stack (∞,1)-topos and hence an analog of the statement of Whiteheads theorem. One finds that

Warning Whitehead’s theorem fails for general (∞,1)-toposes and non-truncated objects.

The ∞-stack (∞,1)-toposes in which the Whitehead theorem does hold are the hypercomplete (∞,1)-toposes. These are precisely the ones that are presented by a local model structure on simplicial presheaves.

For instance the hypercomplete $(\infty,1)$-topos Top is presented by the model structure on simplicial presheaves on the point, namely the model structure on simplicial sets.

In homotopy type theory

Since homotopy type theory admits models in (∞,1)-toposes (and in particular in non-hypercomplete ones), Whitehead’s theorem is not provable when regarded as a statement about types in homotopy type theory. From this perspective, the truth of Whitehead’s theorem is a foundational axiom that may be regarded as a “classicality” property, akin to excluded middle or the axiom of choice — we call it Whitehead’s principle (not to be confused with Whitehead's problem?, another statement that is independent of the usual axioms of set theory).

Whitehead’s principle does hold, however, for maps between homotopy n-types for any finite $n$; this is provable in homotopy type theory by induction on $n$.

Related concepts

• mod p Whitehead theorem

• equivariant stable Whitehead theorem

• CW-approximation

References

Named after J. H. C. Whitehead.

• Anthony Elmendorf, Igor Kriz, Peter May, section 1 of Modern foundations for stable homotopy theory, in Ioan Mackenzie James (ed.), Handbook of Algebraic Topology, 1995 Amsterdam: North-Holland, pp. 213–253, (pdf)

Discussion for equivariant homotopy theory includes

• John Greenlees, Peter May, Equivariant stable homotopy theory, in I.M. James (ed.), Handbook of Algebraic Topology , pp. 279-325. 1995. (pdf)

The $(\infty,1)$-topos version is in section 6.5 of

• Jacob Lurie, Higher Topos Theory

A formalization in homotopy type theory written in Agda is in

• Dan Licata, Whitehead.agda

category: foundational axiom