# What can we say about a space where the identity map on itself is not null-homotopic?

We know that if a space $X$ has the property that $id_X$, the identity map on $X$, is null-homotopic, then $X$ is contractible.

My question is what happen to a space $X$ where the identity map on $X$ is NOT null-homotopic, why can't it be contractible? What goes wrong? Any examples?

Here contractible refers to a property of a space having the homotopy type of a point.

Could anyone help me clarify this confusion? Thanks.

• ... what is your definition of the word "contractible"? – Zev Chonoles Aug 15 '16 at 5:05
• @ZevChonoles A space having the homotopy type of a point. – user338393 Aug 15 '16 at 5:06
• Maybe think about $X= S^1$. – Justin Young Aug 23 '16 at 17:31

(Instead of talking about "identity map not null-homotopic" $\implies$ "not contractible", I'll use the contrapositive.)
If $X$ is contractible, which in your definition means it has the homotopy type of a point, then letting $Y$ be a topological space with one point, there are continuous maps $f:X\to Y$ and $g: Y\to X$ such that $g\circ f\simeq \mathrm{id}_X$ and $f\circ g\simeq \mathrm{id}_Y$.
The map $g\circ f:X\to X$ maps all of $X$ to a single point of $X$. Thus the fact that $g\circ f\simeq \mathrm{id}_X$ says that the identity map of $X$ is null-homotopic.