Isomorphic objects in symmetric monoidal closed categoriest

Abstract

This paper presents a new and self-contained proof of a result characterizing objects isomorphic in the free symmetric monoidal closed category, i.e., objects isomorphic in every symmetric monoidal closed category. This characterization is given by a finitely axiomatizable and decidable equational calculus, which differs from the calculus that axiomatizes all arithmetical equalities in the language with 1, product and exponentiation by lacking T = 1 and (a • b)c = ac • bc(the latter calculus characterizes objects isomorphic in the free cartesian closed category). Nevertheless, this calculus is complete for a certain arithmetical interpretation, and its arithmetical completeness plays an essential role in the proof given here of its completeness with respect to symmetric monoidal closed isomorphisms.