Non-additive derived functors via chain resolutions

Abstract: Let $F\colon \mathcal{C} \to \mathcal{E}$ be a functor from a category $\mathcal{C}$ to a homological (Borceux-Bourn) or semi-abelian (Janelidze-M\'arki-Tholen) category $\mathcal{E}$. We investigate conditions under which the homology of an object $X$ in $\mathcal{C}$ with coefficients in the functor $F$, defined via projective resolutions in $\mathcal{C}$, remains independent of the chosen resolution. Consequently, the left derived functors of $F$ can be constructed analogously to the classical abelian case. Our approach extends the concept of chain homotopy to a non-additive setting using the technique of imaginary morphisms. Specifically, we utilize the approximate subtractions of Bourn-Janelidze, originally introduced in the context of subtractive categories. This method is applicable when $\mathcal{C}$ is a pointed regular category with finite coproducts and enough projectives, provided the class of projectives is closed under protosplit subobjects, a new condition introduced in this article and naturally satisfied in the abelian context. We further assume that the functor $F$ meets certain exactness conditions: for instance, it may be protoadditive and preserve proper morphisms and binary coproducts - conditions that amount to additivity when $\mathcal{C}$ and $\mathcal{E}$ are abelian categories. Within this framework, we develop a basic theory of derived functors, compare it with the simplicial approach, and provide several examples.