Theorem. Lambek's [math-000H]

The evaluator jj of an initial algebra (F,i,j)(F, i, j) is an isomorphism.

Proof [local-0]

Let F  iF\;i be an initial in the FF-algebra category, the following diagram commutes for any CC-object aa

figure tex14002

Now, replace aa with F  iF\;i, we have commute diagram

figure tex14003

Then we consider a trivial commute diagram by duplicating the path F  i→iF\;i \to i

figure tex14004

Combine two diagrams, then we get another commute diagram

figure tex14005

By definition now we know j∘mj \circ m is a homomorphism, and since F  iF\;i is an initial, we must have

F  j∘F  m=1FiF\;j \circ F\;m = 1_{Fi}

Therefore, we also have

j∘m=1ij \circ m = 1_i

so mm is the inverse of jj, proves jj is an isomorphism.