A complete logic for behavioural equivalence in coalgebras of finitary set functors

Abstract

This paper presents a sound and complete sequent-style deduction system for determining behavioural equivalence in coalgebras of finitary set functors preserving weak pullbacks. We select finitary set functors because they are quotients of polynomial functors: the polynomial functor provides a ready-made signature and the quotient provides necessary additional axioms. We also show that certain operations on functors can be expressed with uniform changes to the presentations of the input functors, making this system compositional for a range of widely-studied classes of functors, such as the Kripke polynomial functors. Our system has roots in the FLR0 proof system of Moschovakis et al., particularly as used by Moss, Wennstrom, and Whitney for nonwellfounded sets. Similarities can also be drawn to expression calculi in the style of Bonsangue, Rutten, and Silva.