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Neil Strickland
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Final maps from posets (HTT, 4.2.3.16)

I do not understand the proof of Variant 4.2.3.16 of Higher Topos Theory by Jacob Lurie, and I need help.


Variant 4.2.3.16 asserts the following:

($\diamond$) Let $K$ be a finite simplicial set. There is a cofinal map $N(A)\to K$, where $A$ is a finite poset.

The proof proceeds as follows:

(1). Consider the following property for a simplicial set $K$:

($\ast$) Every nondegenerate simplex $\Delta^n\to K$ is a monomorphism.

If K satisfies ($\ast$), then $K$ satisfies the conclusion of ($\diamond$).

(2). We show that, for each finite simplicial set $K$, there is a cofinal map $\widetilde{K}\to K$, where $\widetilde{K}$ is finite and satisfies ($\ast$).


I am fine with step (1). But I don't understand the proof of (2).

Let me explain Lurie's proof of (2). He argues that we can prove (2) by induction on the number of nondegenerate simplices of $K$. According to him, this is because if $K$ can be written as $K=K_0\amalg _{\partial\Delta^n} \Delta^n$, where $K_0$ satisfies ($\ast$), then $K$ also satisfies ($\ast$). To prove this, he choose a cofinal map $\widetilde{K_0}\to K_0$, where $\widetilde{K}_0$ is a finite simplicial set satisfying ($\ast$), and claims that the map $$\widetilde{K}=(\widetilde{K}_0\times \Delta^n)\amalg _{\partial \Delta^n} \Delta^n\to K$$ witnesses property ($\ast$).

The problem is, I do not understand what the map $\partial \Delta^n\to \widetilde{K}_0$ used in the definition of $\widetilde{K}$ is. Can someone explain what this map is? (Or does anyone know how to prove (2) or ($\diamond$) in different ways?)

Thanks in advance.

Ken
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