Topology without
points (or
sets, of which points are
elements). Strictly speaking, a "topology" is merely a
collection of
objects (called "
open sets") that satisfy certain
conditions. Replacing the concept of
subsets of "the space" with
any lattice (
poset) that is closed to
finite meets (^) and any
joins (v), we can specify a pointless topology:
- The maximum and minimum are open thingies.
- The set of open thingies is closed to finite meets.
- The set of open thingies is closed to any joins.
This lets us define a topology even without identifying the points of the space! It lets you do some interesting category theory things, since it abstracts away the "specific" character of topology, leaving only the "generic" character.
Used (so I am told) in some advanced algebra, especially algebraic number theory.