# Does category theory help in operator algebras?

I'm currently studying the basics of Banach and $C^*$-algebras. Almost all the proofs i've seen so far are very simple but some of them are extremely tricky (in my opinion). This tricky interplay between the bits of analysis and algebra make some of the proofs seem unilluminating and disconnected from the flow of the theory.

Is there an approach to operator algebras that uses category theory to simplify and "trivilize" the elementary theory?

Ideally it would use input from analysis (category of banach spaces, hilbert spaces, topological vector spaces) and algebra (category of associative algebras over $\mathbb{C}$ for a start) only when absolutely (and obviously) necessary.

• What is your question? – Prahlad Vaidyanathan Oct 6 '15 at 14:55
• @PrahladVaidyanathan Better? – Saal Hardali Oct 6 '15 at 15:11
• So are you asking if more advanced math will make current math easier to understand/solve? – Ali Caglayan Oct 6 '15 at 15:38
• @Alizter In what sense is category theory more advanced than operator algebras? Are categories more advanced than homological algebra? or commutative algebra? Even though it's entirely self contained while the other are not? – Saal Hardali Oct 6 '15 at 15:43
• It might help if you gave a specific example of a "trivial" fact in operator algebras which you want to see as "trivially trivial". People may also not realize that you're referencing a famous quote by Peter Freyd, along the lines of "Perhaps the aim of category theory is to see that the trivial is trivially trivial". – tcamps Oct 6 '15 at 16:22