Thick Spanier groups and the first shape group (Q485871)

Let \(X\) be a path connected space, then E. Spanier introduced a normal subgroup \(\pi^{Sp}(X,x_o)\) of the fundamental group, the Spanier group of \(X\). On the other hand there exists a natural mapping \(\Psi_X: \pi_1(X,x_o) \longrightarrow \bar{\pi_1 (X,x_o)}\) between the fundamental group and the shape fundamental group. The main objective of the present paper is to explore the relationship between \(ker \Psi_X\) and the Spanier group. The main result of the paper is the assertion: If \(X\) is locally path connected and paracompact (implying Hausdorff) then these two groups agree. In particular the authors achieve a natural short exact sequence \[ 1 \longrightarrow \pi^{Sp}(X,x_o)\longrightarrow \pi_1 (X,x_o) \overset{\Psi_X}{\longrightarrow}\bar{\pi_1 (X,x_o)}. \] In order to accomplish this the authors introduce a \textit{thick Spanier group} which in all relevant cases turns out to be isomorphic to the ordinary Spanier group. In addition the authors present counterexamples asserting that the conditions on \(X\) are necessary. It would be interesting to explore what happens if ordinary shape (the version which seemingly is used by the authors) is replaced by strong shape.