A short course on $\infty$-categories

Abstract

In this short survey we give a non-technical introduction to some main ideas of the theory of $\infty$-categories, hopefully facilitating the digestion of the foundational work of Joyal and Lurie. Besides the basic $\infty$-categorical notions leading to presentable $\infty$-categories, we mention the Joyal and Bergner model structures organizing two approaches to a theory of $(\infty,1)$-categories. We also discuss monoidal $\infty$-categories and algebra objects, as well as stable $\infty$-categories. These notions come together in Lurie's treatment of the smash product on spectra, yielding a convenient framework for the study of $\mathbb{A}_\infty$-ring spectra, $\mathbb{E}_\infty$-ring spectra, and Derived Algebraic Geometry.

major revision, environment `perspective' added to include comments on larger picture, many references added, submitted, 77 pages