Categorically algebraic foundations for homotopical algebra (Q1372684)

A categorical approach to homotopy theory is developed based on the notion of a (cylinder) endofunctor \(I:{\mathbf A} \to {\mathbf A}\) on a category \({\mathbf A}\) together with suitable operations (faces, degeneracies connections, symmetries, vertical composition, etc.) in such a way that the structure can be naturally lifted from \({\mathbf A}\) to its categories of diagrams and its slice categories. As an essential part of the structure, the notion of lens collapse is introduced as a natural transformation \(w:I^2 \to I^2\) converting a double homotopy into a cell-homotopy. Various applications are dealt with.