Abstract

. Data types like trees which are finitely branching and of (possibly) infinite depth are described by iterating initial algebras and terminal coalgebras. We study proof principles for such data types in the context of categorical logic, following and extending the approach of [14, 15]. The technical contribution of this paper involves a description of initial algebras and terminal coalgebras in total categories of fibrations for lifted "datafunctors". These lifted functors are used to formulate our proof principles. We test these principles by proving some elementary results for four kinds of trees (with finite or infinite breadth or depth) using the proof tool pvs. 1 Introduction Algebras and coalgebras are of well-established importance in computer science, notably in the theory of datatypes, where especially initial algebras and terminal coalgebras play a distinguished role. Over the past decade there is more and more interest in the logic associated with initial algebras and ter...

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