A Structural Fixed-Point Principle in Kunen's Theorem on Quasigroups

Abstract

Kunen proved that a quasigroup satisfying a Moufang-type identity ($N1$) must be a loop. We reformulate the argument in the category $\mathbf{Set}$ as a fixed-point extraction principle. From $N1$ one canonically obtains an idempotent endomorphism $j:G\to G$. Its fixed-point object $\mathrm{Fix}(j)=\mathrm{Eq}(j,{\mathrm{id}}_G)$ splits off as a retract. The $N1$-symmetry forces $j$ to coequalize the (regular) translation action, hence $j$ factors through the terminal object. Thus $\mathrm{Fix}(j)\cong 1$, yielding a unique global identity element. This provides a conceptual reformulation of Kunen's original algebraic proof \cite{Kunen}.

arXiv comment11 pages. This paper provides a category-theoretic reformulation of Kunen's theorem on Moufang quasigroups, introducing a structural fixed-point principle via symmetry collapse