7

Assuming the axiom of choice it is very easy to see that $\aleph_1$ is a regular Joe of a successor cardinal. It is not very large in any way except the fact that it is the first uncountable cardinal.

If however we begin with a model of ZFC+Inaccessible, we can construct models of ZF in which $\aleph_1$ is somewhat inaccessible in the sense that $\aleph_1\nleq 2^{\aleph_0}$ If, on the other hand, we start with a model of ZF whic has this property then there exists an inner model with an inaccessible cardinal.

It can be that $\aleph_1$ is a measurable cardinal, namely that every subset of $\omega_1$ contains a club, or is nonstationary; and it is possible for $\aleph_1$ to have the tree property (I only know of models by Apter in which all successor cardinals have the tree property; but that would require a proper class of very large cardinals).

In general we say that $\aleph_1$ is P-large for a large cardinal property P, if it is consistent with ZF that $\aleph_1$ has property P, and from such model we can produce a model of ZFC+$\kappa>\aleph_0$ has property P.

Question: Is there a limit on how P-large can $\aleph_1$ be? (e.g. P can be tree property/$\kappa$-complete ultrafilter/supercompact measures/etc.) and are there properties P such that for $\aleph_1$ to have them we require more than ZFC+P?

flag
What do you mean by $\aleph_1 \not\leq 2^{\aleph_0}$ ? Assuming choice that's just wrong and inaccessibles don't change that. – Johannes Hahn Feb 3 2012 at 16:37
@Johannes: Asaf is thinking about the Solovay model - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solovay_model – François G. Dorais Feb 3 2012 at 16:47
Since $\aleph_1 \leq 2^{2^{\aleph_0}}$ in ZF, I have a hard time thinking of $\aleph_1 \nleq 2^{\aleph_0}$ as an inaccessibility statement. – François G. Dorais Feb 3 2012 at 16:52
1 
Is $\aleph_1$ a regular Joe or a regular John? Sorry bad joke. Under AD $\aleph_1$ has the strong partition property. – alephomega Feb 4 2012 at 6:18
1 
If $\kappa = \aleph_1$ is measurable as witnessed by a measure $\mu$, then $\kappa$ is measurable in $L[\mu]$, which is a model of AC. – Trevor Wilson Feb 28 2012 at 23:49
show 4 more comments

Your Answer

Get an OpenID
or

Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.