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Joel David Hamkins
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See the Prime ideal theorem.

The existence of ultrafilters on every Boolean algebra (which implies non-principal ultrafilters on ω, since these come from ultrafilters on the Boolean algebra P(ω)/Fin) is a set-theoretic principle that follows from AC and is not provable in ZF (if ZF is consistent), but which does not imply full AC. Thus, it is an intermediate weaker choice principle.

Your statement about ultrafilters on ω appears to be even weaker, since it is such a special case of the Prime Ideal Theorem.

Nevertheless, I believe that the method of forcing shows that it is consistent with ZF that there are no non-principal ultrafilters on ω. I believe that some of the standard models of ¬AC, built by using symmetric names for adding Cohen reals, have DC, and hence also ACω, but still have no nonprincipal ultrafilters on ω. In this case, neither DC nor ACω would imply the existence of such ultrafilters.

I'm less sure about finding models that have ultrafilters on ω, but not on all Boolean algebras. But I believe that this is likely the case. These models would show that your principle is strictly weaker even than the Prime Ideal Theorem.

See the Prime ideal theorem.

The existence of ultrafilters on every Boolean algebra (which implies non-principal ultrafilters on ω, since these come from ultrafilters on the Boolean algebra P(ω)/Fin) is a set-theoretic principle that follows from AC and is not provable in ZF (if ZF is consistent), but which does not imply full AC. Thus, it is an intermediate weaker choice principle.

Your statement about ultrafilters on ω appears to be even weaker, since it is such a special case of the Prime Ideal Theorem.

Nevertheless, I believe that the method of forcing shows that it is consistent with ZF that there are no non-principal ultrafilters on ω. I believe that some of the standard models of ¬AC, built by using symmetric names for adding Cohen reals, have DC, and hence also ACω, but still have no nonprincipal ultrafilters on ω. In this case, neither DC nor ACω would imply the existence of such ultrafilters.

I'm less sure about finding models that have ultrafilters on ω, but not on all Boolean algebras. But I believe that this is likely the case. These models would show that your principle is strictly weaker even than the Prime Ideal Theorem.

Source Link
Joel David Hamkins
  • 236.2k
  • 44
  • 777
  • 1.4k