A duality principle for lattices and categories of modules

Let R be a ring with 1, R^op the opposite ring, and R-Mod the category of left unitary R-modules and R-linear maps. A characterization of well-powered abelian categories $\text{A}$ such that there exists an exact embedding functor $\text{A}$→R-Mod is given. Using this characterization and abelian category duality, the following duality principles can be established.Theorem. There exists an exact embedding functor $\text{A}$→R-Mod if and only if there exists an exact embedding functor $\text{A}$^op→R^op-Mod.Corollary. If R-Mod has a specified diagram-chasing property, then R^op-Mod has the dual property.A lattice L is representable by R-modules if it is embeddable in the lattice of submodules of some unitary left R-module; $\text{L}$(R) denotes the quasivariety of all lattices representable by R-modules.Theorem. A lattice L is representable by R-modules if and only if its order dual L¹ is representable by R^op-modules. That is, $\text{L}\text{(}\text{R}{}^{\mathrm{op}}\text{)={L}{}^1\text{:L?}\text{L}\text{(}\text{R}\text{)}}$.If $\text{R}$ is a commutative ring with 1 and a specified diagram-chasing result is satisfied in R-Mod, then the dual result is also satisfied in R-Mod. Furthermore, $\text{L}\text{(}\text{R}\text{)}$ is self-dual: $\text{L}\text{(}\text{R}\text{)= {L}{}^1\text{:L?}\text{L}\text{(}\text{R}\text{)}.}$