An Introduction to Topos Theory

The purpose of this text is to equip the reader with an intuitive but precise understanding of elementary structures of category and topos theory. In order to achieve this goal, we provide a guided tour through category theory, leading to the definition of an elementary (Lawvere–Tierney) topos. Then we turn to the investigation of consequences of this definition. In particular, we analyse in detail the topos Set op , the internal structure of its subobject classifier and its variation over stages. Next we turn to the discussion of the interpretation of a logic and language in topos, viewed as a model of higher order intuitionistic multisort type theory, as well as the geometric perspective on a topos, viewed as a category of set-valued sheaves over base category equipped with a Grothendieck topology. This text is designed as an elementary introduction, written in a self-contained way, with no previous knowledge required.