On diagrams and flatness of functors (Q1588076)

Denote by \({\mathcal S}ets^{\mathcal C}\) and \({\mathcal S}ets^{{\mathcal C}^{\text{op}}}\) the categories of covariant and contravariant functors, defined on a small category \({\mathcal C}\) to the category \({\mathcal S}ets\) of sets, and natural transformations between them. A functor \(F\in {\mathcal S}ets^{\mathcal C}\) is called weakly flat if the functor \(F\otimes-:{\mathcal S}ets^{{\mathcal C}^{\text{op}}} \rightarrow {\mathcal S}ets\) preserves equalizers and pullbacks. The main theorem finds equivalent conditions for a nonempty functor \(F\in {\mathcal S}ets^{\mathcal C}\) to be weakly flat (or, equivalently, pullback-flat).