Alternative Set Theories

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Alternative Set Theories Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii Introduction Alternative Set Theories NGB MK KP Yurii Khomskii NF AFA IZF / CZF Other Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Naive Set Theory Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii Introduction NGB MK Naive Set Theory KP For every ', the set fx j '(x)g exists. NF AFA IZF / CZF Other Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Russell's Paradox Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii Russell's Paradox Introduction Let K := fx j x 2= xg NGB MK Then K 2 K $ K 2= K KP NF AFA IZF / CZF Other Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories ZFC Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii Introduction NGB The commonly accepted ax- MK iomatization of set theory is KP ZFC. All results in mainstream NF mathematics can be formalized AFA in it. IZF / CZF Other Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Philosophy of ZFC Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii Introduction Philosophy of ZFC NGB Everything is a set. MK Sets are constructed out of other sets, bottom up. KP NF Comprehension can only select a subset out of an AFA existing set (avoid paradoxes). IZF / CZF Certain definable collections fx j '(x)g are \too large" to Other be sets. Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Logic of ZFC Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii Introduction Logic of ZFC NGB MK Classical predicate logic. KP One-sorted. NF One binary non-logical relation symbol 2. AFA In this language, ZFC is an infinite (but recursive) IZF / CZF Other collection of axioms. Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Other set theories Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii All these factors are liable to change! Several alternative set Introduction theories have been proposed, for a variety of reasons: NGB Philosophical (more intuitive conception) MK The need to have proper classes as formal objects (e.g., KP \class forcing") NF AFA Capturing a fragment of mathematics (e.g., predicative IZF / CZF fragment, intuitionistic fragment etc.) Other Application to other fields (e.g., computer science) Simply out of curiosity... Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Alternative systems Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii The alternative systems we intend to study are the following: Introduction 1 NGB (von Neumann-G¨odel-Bernays) NGB 2 MK MK (Morse-Kelley) KP 3 NF (New Foundations) NF 4 KP (Kripke-Platek) AFA 5 IZF / CZF IZF/CZF (Intuitionistic and constructive set theory) − Other 6 ZF + AFA (Antifoundation) 7 Modal or other set theory? Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii Introduction NGB MK KP von Neumann-G¨odel-Bernays (NBG) NF AFA IZF / CZF Other Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories NGB Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii NGB (von Neumann-G¨odel-Bernays) Introduction NGB We have sets and classes; some classes are sets, others MK are not. KP NF It can be formalized either in a two-sorted language or AFA using a predicate M(X ) stating \X is a set". IZF / CZF You still need set existence axioms, along with class Other existence axioms. NGB can be finitely axiomatized. Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Axiomatization of NGB Alternative Set Theories Axiomatization of NGB Yurii Khomskii Set axioms: Pairing Introduction Infinity NGB Union MK Power set KP Replacement NF Class axioms: AFA IZF / CZF Extensionality Foundation Other Class comprehension schema for ' which quantify only over sets: C := fx j '(x)g is a class Global Choice. Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Class comprehension vs. finite axiomatization Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii Introduction NGB As stated above, class comprehension is a schema. However, it MK can be replaced by finitely many instances thereof (roughly KP speaking: one axiom for each application of a logical NF connective/quantifier). AFA IZF / CZF Other Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii Introduction NGB MK KP Morse-Kelley (MK) NF AFA IZF / CZF Other Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Morse-Kelley MK Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii Introduction Morse-Kelley (MK) NGB MK Morse-Kelley set theory is a variant of NGB with the class KP comprehension schema allowing arbitrary formulas (also those NF that quantify over classes). AFA IZF / CZF MK is not finitely axiomatizable. Other Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Consistency strength Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii NGB is a conservative extension of ZFC: for any Introduction theorem ' involving only sets, if NGB ` ' then ZFC ` '. NGB In particular, if ZFC is consistent then NGB is consistent. MK KP MK ` Con(ZFC), and therefore the consistency of MK NF does not follow from the consistency of ZFC. AFA If κ is inaccessible, then (Vκ; Def(Vκ)) j= NGB while IZF / CZF (Vκ; P(Vκ)) j= MK. Other The consistency strength of MK is strictly between ZFC and ZFC + Inaccessible. Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii Introduction NGB MK KP Kripke-Platek (KP) NF AFA IZF / CZF Other Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories KP Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii Kripke-Platek set theory (KP) Introduction NGB Captures a small part of mathematics | stronger than 2nd MK order arithmetic but noticeably weaker than ZF. KP NF Idea: get rid of \impredicative" axioms of ZFC: in particular AFA Power Set, (full) Separation and (full) Replacement. IZF / CZF Other Instead, have Separation and Replacement for ∆0-formulas only. Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Applications of KP Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii Introduction KP has applications in many standard areas of set theory as NGB well as recursion theory and constructibility. MK KP One example: KP is sufficient to develop the theory of G¨odel's NF Constructible Universe L. AFA IZF / CZF L is not only the minimal model of ZFC, but also the minimal Other model of KP (this is because \V = L" is absolute for KP). Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii Introduction NGB MK KP Quine's New Foundations (NF) NF AFA IZF / CZF Other Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories NF Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii Introduction Quine's New Foundations. NGB MK The idea is: avoid Russell's paradox by a syntactical KP limitation on ' in the comprehension scheme fx j '(x)g. NF AFA NF has its roots in type theory, as it was first developed in IZF / CZF Principia Mathematica. Other Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Stratified sentences Alternative Set Theories Yurii A sentence φ in the language of set theory (only = and 2 Khomskii symbols) is stratified if it is possible to assign a non-negative Introduction integer to each variable x occurring in φ, called the type of x, NGB in such a way that: MK 1 Each variable has the same type whenever it appears, KP 2 NF In each occurrence of \x = y" in φ, the types of x and y AFA are the same, and IZF / CZF 3 In each occurrence of \x 2 y" in φ, the type of y is one Other higher than the type of x. Example: x = x is stratified. x 2 y is stratified. x 2= x is not stratified. Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Axiomatization of NF Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii Introduction Axiomatization of NF NGB Extensionality, MK KP Stratified comprehension scheme: NF AFA fx j '(x)g exists IZF / CZF Other for every stratified formula '. Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Finite axiomatization of NF Alternative Set Theories Alternatively, we may replace the stratified comprehension Yurii scheme by finitely many instances thereof, each having Khomskii intuitive motivation: Introduction The empty set exists: fx j ?g NGB MK The singleton set exists: fx j x = yg KP The union of a set a exists: fx j 9y 2 a (x 2 y)g NF ... AFA as well as other \non-ZFC-ish" axioms, e.g.: IZF / CZF Other The universe exists: fx j >g The compelement of A exists: fx j x 2= Ag ... The full stratified comprehension scheme is a consequence of these instances. Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Properties of NF Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii NF is weird! Introduction NGB V := fx j >g, the universe of all sets, exists, and V 2 V . MK Therefore: KP · · · 2 V 2 V 2 V : NF AFA NF ` :AC. IZF / CZF Therefore: NF ` Infinity. Other The consistency of NF was an open problem since 1937 till (about) 2010. Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories NFU Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii Introduction Ronald Jensen considered a weakening of NF called NFU (New NGB Foundations with Urelements), weakening Extensionality to MK KP 8x8y (x 6= ? ^ y 6= ? ^ 8z (z 2 x $ z 2 y) ! x = y) NF AFA IZF / CZF NFU was known to be consistent for a long time, NFU 6` :AC Other and NFU 6` Infinity. So NFU+ Infinity +AC is consistent. Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii Introduction NGB MK KP Non-well-founded set theory NF AFA IZF / CZF Other Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Non-well-founded set theory Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii Aczel's non-well-founded set theory Introduction NGB We already saw that V 2 V holds in NF. MK KP NF Peter Aczel considered the question: \how non-well-founded AFA can set theory be"? In other words, is it consistent that any IZF / CZF kind of non-well-founded set that you can think of, exists? Other This leads to the Anti-Foundation Axiom AFA. Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Pictures of sets Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii Idea: sets can be pictured using graphs, with \x ! y" Introduction representing \y 2 x", e.g.: NGB MK KP ◦ NF AFA } ! IZF / CZF ◦ ◦ Other ◦ Yurii Khomskii Alternative Set Theories Pictures of sets Alternative Set Theories Yurii Khomskii
Recommended publications
  • Does the Category of Multisets Require a Larger Universe Than
    Pure Mathematical Sciences, Vol. 2, 2013, no. 3, 133 - 146 HIKARI Ltd, www.m-hikari.com Does the Category of Multisets Require a Larger Universe than that of the Category of Sets? Dasharath Singh (Former affiliation: Indian Institute of Technology Bombay) Department of Mathematics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria [email protected] Ahmed Ibrahim Isah Department of Mathematics Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria [email protected] Alhaji Jibril Alkali Department of Mathematics Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria [email protected] Copyright © 2013 Dasharath Singh et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Abstract In section 1, the concept of a category is briefly described. In section 2, it is elaborated how the concept of category is naturally intertwined with the existence of a universe of discourse much larger than what is otherwise sufficient for a large part of mathematics. It is also remarked that the extended universe for the category of sets is adequate for the category of multisets as well. In section 3, fundamentals required for adequately describing a category are extended to defining a multiset category, and some of its distinctive features are outlined. Mathematics Subject Classification: 18A05, 18A20, 18B99 134 Dasharath Singh et al. Keywords: Category, Universe, Multiset Category, objects. 1. Introduction to categories The history of science and that of mathematics, in particular, records that at times, a by- product may turn out to be of greater significance than the main objective of a research.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Elementary Set Theory
    1 Elementary Set Theory Notation: fg enclose a set. f1; 2; 3g = f3; 2; 2; 1; 3g because a set is not defined by order or multiplicity. f0; 2; 4;:::g = fxjx is an even natural numberg because two ways of writing a set are equivalent. ; is the empty set. x 2 A denotes x is an element of A. N = f0; 1; 2;:::g are the natural numbers. Z = f:::; −2; −1; 0; 1; 2;:::g are the integers. m Q = f n jm; n 2 Z and n 6= 0g are the rational numbers. R are the real numbers. Axiom 1.1. Axiom of Extensionality Let A; B be sets. If (8x)x 2 A iff x 2 B then A = B. Definition 1.1 (Subset). Let A; B be sets. Then A is a subset of B, written A ⊆ B iff (8x) if x 2 A then x 2 B. Theorem 1.1. If A ⊆ B and B ⊆ A then A = B. Proof. Let x be arbitrary. Because A ⊆ B if x 2 A then x 2 B Because B ⊆ A if x 2 B then x 2 A Hence, x 2 A iff x 2 B, thus A = B. Definition 1.2 (Union). Let A; B be sets. The Union A [ B of A and B is defined by x 2 A [ B if x 2 A or x 2 B. Theorem 1.2. A [ (B [ C) = (A [ B) [ C Proof. Let x be arbitrary. x 2 A [ (B [ C) iff x 2 A or x 2 B [ C iff x 2 A or (x 2 B or x 2 C) iff x 2 A or x 2 B or x 2 C iff (x 2 A or x 2 B) or x 2 C iff x 2 A [ B or x 2 C iff x 2 (A [ B) [ C Definition 1.3 (Intersection).
    [Show full text]
  • Mathematics 144 Set Theory Fall 2012 Version
    MATHEMATICS 144 SET THEORY FALL 2012 VERSION Table of Contents I. General considerations.……………………………………………………………………………………………………….1 1. Overview of the course…………………………………………………………………………………………………1 2. Historical background and motivation………………………………………………………….………………4 3. Selected problems………………………………………………………………………………………………………13 I I. Basic concepts. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….15 1. Topics from logic…………………………………………………………………………………………………………16 2. Notation and first steps………………………………………………………………………………………………26 3. Simple examples…………………………………………………………………………………………………………30 I I I. Constructions in set theory.………………………………………………………………………………..……….34 1. Boolean algebra operations.……………………………………………………………………………………….34 2. Ordered pairs and Cartesian products……………………………………………………………………… ….40 3. Larger constructions………………………………………………………………………………………………..….42 4. A convenient assumption………………………………………………………………………………………… ….45 I V. Relations and functions ……………………………………………………………………………………………….49 1.Binary relations………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ….49 2. Partial and linear orderings……………………………..………………………………………………… ………… 56 3. Functions…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ….…….. 61 4. Composite and inverse function.…………………………………………………………………………… …….. 70 5. Constructions involving functions ………………………………………………………………………… ……… 77 6. Order types……………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………… 80 i V. Number systems and set theory …………………………………………………………………………………. 84 1. The Natural Numbers and Integers…………………………………………………………………………….83 2. Finite induction
    [Show full text]
  • Redalyc.Sets and Pluralities
    Red de Revistas Científicas de América Latina, el Caribe, España y Portugal Sistema de Información Científica Gustavo Fernández Díez Sets and Pluralities Revista Colombiana de Filosofía de la Ciencia, vol. IX, núm. 19, 2009, pp. 5-22, Universidad El Bosque Colombia Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=41418349001 Revista Colombiana de Filosofía de la Ciencia, ISSN (Printed Version): 0124-4620 [email protected] Universidad El Bosque Colombia How to cite Complete issue More information about this article Journal's homepage www.redalyc.org Non-Profit Academic Project, developed under the Open Acces Initiative Sets and Pluralities1 Gustavo Fernández Díez2 Resumen En este artículo estudio el trasfondo filosófico del sistema de lógica conocido como “lógica plural”, o “lógica de cuantificadores plurales”, de aparición relativamente reciente (y en alza notable en los últimos años). En particular, comparo la noción de “conjunto” emanada de la teoría axiomática de conjuntos, con la noción de “plura- lidad” que se encuentra detrás de este nuevo sistema. Mi conclusión es que los dos son completamente diferentes en su alcance y sus límites, y que la diferencia proviene de las diferentes motivaciones que han dado lugar a cada uno. Mientras que la teoría de conjuntos es una teoría genuinamente matemática, que tiene el interés matemático como ingrediente principal, la lógica plural ha aparecido como respuesta a considera- ciones lingüísticas, relacionadas con la estructura lógica de los enunciados plurales del inglés y el resto de los lenguajes naturales. Palabras clave: conjunto, teoría de conjuntos, pluralidad, cuantificación plural, lógica plural. Abstract In this paper I study the philosophical background of the relatively recent (and in the last few years increasingly flourishing) system of logic called “plural logic”, or “logic of plural quantifiers”.
    [Show full text]
  • The Matroid Theorem We First Review Our Definitions: a Subset System Is A
    CMPSCI611: The Matroid Theorem Lecture 5 We first review our definitions: A subset system is a set E together with a set of subsets of E, called I, such that I is closed under inclusion. This means that if X ⊆ Y and Y ∈ I, then X ∈ I. The optimization problem for a subset system (E, I) has as input a positive weight for each element of E. Its output is a set X ∈ I such that X has at least as much total weight as any other set in I. A subset system is a matroid if it satisfies the exchange property: If i and i0 are sets in I and i has fewer elements than i0, then there exists an element e ∈ i0 \ i such that i ∪ {e} ∈ I. 1 The Generic Greedy Algorithm Given any finite subset system (E, I), we find a set in I as follows: • Set X to ∅. • Sort the elements of E by weight, heaviest first. • For each element of E in this order, add it to X iff the result is in I. • Return X. Today we prove: Theorem: For any subset system (E, I), the greedy al- gorithm solves the optimization problem for (E, I) if and only if (E, I) is a matroid. 2 Theorem: For any subset system (E, I), the greedy al- gorithm solves the optimization problem for (E, I) if and only if (E, I) is a matroid. Proof: We will show first that if (E, I) is a matroid, then the greedy algorithm is correct. Assume that (E, I) satisfies the exchange property.
    [Show full text]
  • Cantor, God, and Inconsistent Multiplicities*
    STUDIES IN LOGIC, GRAMMAR AND RHETORIC 44 (57) 2016 DOI: 10.1515/slgr-2016-0008 Aaron R. Thomas-Bolduc University of Calgary CANTOR, GOD, AND INCONSISTENT MULTIPLICITIES* Abstract. The importance of Georg Cantor’s religious convictions is often ne- glected in discussions of his mathematics and metaphysics. Herein I argue, pace Jan´e(1995), that due to the importance of Christianity to Cantor, he would have never thought of absolutely infinite collections/inconsistent multiplicities, as being merely potential, or as being purely mathematical entities. I begin by considering and rejecting two arguments due to Ignacio Jan´e based on letters to Hilbert and the generating principles for ordinals, respectively, showing that my reading of Cantor is consistent with that evidence. I then argue that evidence from Cantor’s later writings shows that he was still very religious later in his career, and thus would not have given up on the reality of the absolute, as that would imply an imperfection on the part of God. The theological acceptance of his set theory was very important to Can- tor. Despite this, the influence of theology on his conception of absolutely infinite collections, or inconsistent multiplicities, is often ignored in contem- porary literature.1 I will be arguing that due in part to his religious convic- tions, and despite an apparent tension between his earlier and later writings, Cantor would never have considered inconsistent multiplicities (similar to what we now call proper classes) as completed in a mathematical sense, though they are completed in Intellectus Divino. Before delving into the issue of the actuality or otherwise of certain infinite collections, it will be informative to give an explanation of Cantor’s terminology, as well a sketch of Cantor’s relationship with religion and reli- gious figures.
    [Show full text]
  • Set-Theoretic Geology, the Ultimate Inner Model, and New Axioms
    Set-theoretic Geology, the Ultimate Inner Model, and New Axioms Justin William Henry Cavitt (860) 949-5686 [email protected] Advisor: W. Hugh Woodin Harvard University March 20, 2017 Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Philosophy Contents 1 Introduction 2 1.1 Author’s Note . .4 1.2 Acknowledgements . .4 2 The Independence Problem 5 2.1 Gödelian Independence and Consistency Strength . .5 2.2 Forcing and Natural Independence . .7 2.2.1 Basics of Forcing . .8 2.2.2 Forcing Facts . 11 2.2.3 The Space of All Forcing Extensions: The Generic Multiverse 15 2.3 Recap . 16 3 Approaches to New Axioms 17 3.1 Large Cardinals . 17 3.2 Inner Model Theory . 25 3.2.1 Basic Facts . 26 3.2.2 The Constructible Universe . 30 3.2.3 Other Inner Models . 35 3.2.4 Relative Constructibility . 38 3.3 Recap . 39 4 Ultimate L 40 4.1 The Axiom V = Ultimate L ..................... 41 4.2 Central Features of Ultimate L .................... 42 4.3 Further Philosophical Considerations . 47 4.4 Recap . 51 1 5 Set-theoretic Geology 52 5.1 Preliminaries . 52 5.2 The Downward Directed Grounds Hypothesis . 54 5.2.1 Bukovský’s Theorem . 54 5.2.2 The Main Argument . 61 5.3 Main Results . 65 5.4 Recap . 74 6 Conclusion 74 7 Appendix 75 7.1 Notation . 75 7.2 The ZFC Axioms . 76 7.3 The Ordinals . 77 7.4 The Universe of Sets . 77 7.5 Transitive Models and Absoluteness .
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 1 Logic and Set Theory
    Chapter 1 Logic and Set Theory To criticize mathematics for its abstraction is to miss the point entirely. Abstraction is what makes mathematics work. If you concentrate too closely on too limited an application of a mathematical idea, you rob the mathematician of his most important tools: analogy, generality, and simplicity. – Ian Stewart Does God play dice? The mathematics of chaos In mathematics, a proof is a demonstration that, assuming certain axioms, some statement is necessarily true. That is, a proof is a logical argument, not an empir- ical one. One must demonstrate that a proposition is true in all cases before it is considered a theorem of mathematics. An unproven proposition for which there is some sort of empirical evidence is known as a conjecture. Mathematical logic is the framework upon which rigorous proofs are built. It is the study of the principles and criteria of valid inference and demonstrations. Logicians have analyzed set theory in great details, formulating a collection of axioms that affords a broad enough and strong enough foundation to mathematical reasoning. The standard form of axiomatic set theory is denoted ZFC and it consists of the Zermelo-Fraenkel (ZF) axioms combined with the axiom of choice (C). Each of the axioms included in this theory expresses a property of sets that is widely accepted by mathematicians. It is unfortunately true that careless use of set theory can lead to contradictions. Avoiding such contradictions was one of the original motivations for the axiomatization of set theory. 1 2 CHAPTER 1. LOGIC AND SET THEORY A rigorous analysis of set theory belongs to the foundations of mathematics and mathematical logic.
    [Show full text]
  • Automated ZFC Theorem Proving with E
    Automated ZFC Theorem Proving with E John Hester Department of Mathematics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA https://people.clas.ufl.edu/hesterj/ [email protected] Abstract. I introduce an approach for automated reasoning in first or- der set theories that are not finitely axiomatizable, such as ZFC, and describe its implementation alongside the automated theorem proving software E. I then compare the results of proof search in the class based set theory NBG with those of ZFC. Keywords: ZFC · ATP · E. 1 Introduction Historically, automated reasoning in first order set theories has faced a fun- damental problem in the axiomatizations. Some theories such as ZFC widely considered as candidates for the foundations of mathematics are not finitely axiomatizable. Axiom schemas such as the schema of comprehension and the schema of replacement in ZFC are infinite, and so cannot be entirely incorpo- rated in to the prover at the beginning of a proof search. Indeed, there is no finite axiomatization of ZFC [1]. As a result, when reasoning about sufficiently strong set theories that could no longer be considered naive, some have taken the alternative approach of using extensions of ZFC that admit objects such as proper classes as first order objects, but this is not without its problems for the individual interested in proving set-theoretic propositions. As an alternative, I have programmed an extension to the automated the- orem prover E [2] that generates instances of parameter free replacement and comprehension from well formuled formulas of ZFC that are passed to it, when eligible, and adds them to the proof state while the prover is running.
    [Show full text]
  • The Axiom of Choice and Its Implications
    THE AXIOM OF CHOICE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS KEVIN BARNUM Abstract. In this paper we will look at the Axiom of Choice and some of the various implications it has. These implications include a number of equivalent statements, and also some less accepted ideas. The proofs discussed will give us an idea of why the Axiom of Choice is so powerful, but also so controversial. Contents 1. Introduction 1 2. The Axiom of Choice and Its Equivalents 1 2.1. The Axiom of Choice and its Well-known Equivalents 1 2.2. Some Other Less Well-known Equivalents of the Axiom of Choice 3 3. Applications of the Axiom of Choice 5 3.1. Equivalence Between The Axiom of Choice and the Claim that Every Vector Space has a Basis 5 3.2. Some More Applications of the Axiom of Choice 6 4. Controversial Results 10 Acknowledgments 11 References 11 1. Introduction The Axiom of Choice states that for any family of nonempty disjoint sets, there exists a set that consists of exactly one element from each element of the family. It seems strange at first that such an innocuous sounding idea can be so powerful and controversial, but it certainly is both. To understand why, we will start by looking at some statements that are equivalent to the axiom of choice. Many of these equivalences are very useful, and we devote much time to one, namely, that every vector space has a basis. We go on from there to see a few more applications of the Axiom of Choice and its equivalents, and finish by looking at some of the reasons why the Axiom of Choice is so controversial.
    [Show full text]
  • Nonstandard Set Theories and Information Management
    Nonstandard Set Theories and Information Management VAROL AKMAN akmantroycsbilkentedutr Department of Computer Engineering and Information Science Bilkent University Bilkent Ankara Turkey MUJDATPAKKAN pakkantrb ounbitnet Department of Computer Engineering Bosphorus University Bebek Istanbul Turkey Abstract The merits of set theory as a foundational to ol in mathematics stimulate its use in various areas of articial intelligence in particular intelligent information systems In this pap er a study of various nonstandard treatments of set theory from this p ersp ective is oered Applications of these alternative set theories to information or knowledge management are surveyed Keywords set theory knowledge representation information management commonsense rea soning nonwellfounded sets hyp ersets Intro duction Set theory is a branch of mo dern mathematics with a unique place b ecause various other branches can b e formally dened within it For example Book of the inuential works of N Bourbaki is devoted to the theory of sets and provides the framework for the remaining 1 volumes Bourbaki said in Goldblatt All mathematical theories may b e regarded as extensions of the general theory of sets On these foundations I can state that I can build up the whole of the mathematics of the present day This brings up the p ossibility of using set theory in foundational studies in AI Mc Carthy has emphasized the need for fundamental research in AI and claimed that AI needs mathematical and logical theory involving conceptual innovations In an
    [Show full text]
  • 17 Axiom of Choice
    Math 361 Axiom of Choice 17 Axiom of Choice De¯nition 17.1. Let be a nonempty set of nonempty sets. Then a choice function for is a function f sucFh that f(S) S for all S . F 2 2 F Example 17.2. Let = (N)r . Then we can de¯ne a choice function f by F P f;g f(S) = the least element of S: Example 17.3. Let = (Z)r . Then we can de¯ne a choice function f by F P f;g f(S) = ²n where n = min z z S and, if n = 0, ² = min z= z z = n; z S . fj j j 2 g 6 f j j j j j 2 g Example 17.4. Let = (Q)r . Then we can de¯ne a choice function f as follows. F P f;g Let g : Q N be an injection. Then ! f(S) = q where g(q) = min g(r) r S . f j 2 g Example 17.5. Let = (R)r . Then it is impossible to explicitly de¯ne a choice function for . F P f;g F Axiom 17.6 (Axiom of Choice (AC)). For every set of nonempty sets, there exists a function f such that f(S) S for all S . F 2 2 F We say that f is a choice function for . F Theorem 17.7 (AC). If A; B are non-empty sets, then the following are equivalent: (a) A B ¹ (b) There exists a surjection g : B A. ! Proof. (a) (b) Suppose that A B.
    [Show full text]