The rank filtration and Robinson's complex (Q2464514)

Let \(\Gamma\) denote the category of finite based sets and basepoint-preserving set maps. For a fixed commutative ring \(R\) with unit, a left (right) \(\Gamma\)-module means a covariant (contravariant) functor from \(\Gamma\) to the category of \(R\)-modules. For a \(\Gamma\)-module \(F\), the \textit{Taylor tower} of \(F\) is a sequence of functors \[ P_1F\leftarrow P_2F\leftarrow\cdots\leftarrow P_nF\leftarrow P_{n+1}F\leftarrow\cdots. \] having formal properties analogous to those of the Taylor series of a real-valued function. The Taylor tower of a functor was first studied by \textit{T. G. Goodwillie} in a very important series of papers [Part I, \(K\)-Theory 4, No. 1, 1--27 (1990; Zbl 0741.57021), Part II, \(K\)-Theory 5, No. 4, 295--332 (1992; Zbl 0776.55008), Part III, Geom. Topol. 7, 645--711 (2003; Zbl 1067.55006)]. The Goodwillie theory for \(\Gamma\)-modules was studied by \textit{B. Richter} [Ann. Inst. Fourier 51, No. 4, 995--1023 (2001; Zbl 0997.18008)] with an application for classifying \(E_{\infty}\)-structures on ring spectra given by \textit{A. Robinson} [Invent. Math. 152, No. 2, 331--348 (2003; Zbl 1027.55010)], where an important bi-complex was introduced. It should be mentioned that the symmetric group module \(\mathrm{Lie}(n)\) plays an important role in the obstruction theory for the Taylor tower of functors. On the other hand, the symmetric group module \(\mathrm{Lie}(n)\) also plays an important role in the obstruction theory for the classical exponent problem and decompositions of loops on co\(H\)-spaces in unstable homotopy theory [\textit{F. R. Cohen}, Contemp. Math. 188, 49--55 (1995; Zbl 0849.55015); \textit{P. Selick} and \textit{J. Wu}, Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 701 (2000; Zbl 0964.55012); \textit{J. Wu}, Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 851 (2006; Zbl 1098.55006)]. In this article, the authors identify a subcomplex of Robinson's bicomplex which arises from a natural filtration of the functor obtained by taking left Kan approximations on subcategories of bounded cardinality.