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Noah Schweber
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  • First, we'll use the von Neumann approach to $\mathbb{N}$: an ordinal is a hereditarily transitive set, ordinals are ordered by $\in$, and the finite ordinals are the ordinals which do not contain any (nonempty) limit ordinal. We then identify $\mathbb{N}$ with the finite ordinals — more jargonily, $\mathbb{N}=\omega$. We define addition and multiplication of ordinals via transfinite recursion as usual.

  • Next, we consider the equivalence relation $\sim$ on $\omega^2$$\omega\times(\omega\setminus\{0\})$ as follows: $$\langle a,b\rangle\sim\langle c,d\rangle \iff ad=bc,$$ and we let $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge0}$ be the set of $\sim$-classes. We lift the ordering on $\omega$ to $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge 0}$ in the obvious way.

  • Now we're ready to define $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$, via Dedekind cuts: an element of $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$ is a nonempty, downwards-closed, bounded-above subset of $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge0}$. The ordering on $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$ is just $\subseteq$.

With all this in hand, the naive definitions of metric space, Cauchy sequence, and complete metric space translate into the language of set theory directly (if tediously). The point is that all of this is first-order in set theory, with axioms like Powerset (which, despite what they mean intuitively, are indeed first-order) doing the heavy lifting needed to show that the objects we want actually exist at all. (For a bit more about the nuance of "first-order in set theory," see this recent answer of mine.)

  • First, we'll use the von Neumann approach to $\mathbb{N}$: an ordinal is a hereditarily transitive set, ordinals are ordered by $\in$, and the finite ordinals are the ordinals which do not contain any (nonempty) limit ordinal. We then identify $\mathbb{N}$ with the finite ordinals — more jargonily, $\mathbb{N}=\omega$. We define addition and multiplication of ordinals via transfinite recursion as usual.

  • Next, we consider the equivalence relation $\sim$ on $\omega^2$ as follows: $$\langle a,b\rangle\sim\langle c,d\rangle \iff ad=bc,$$ and we let $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge0}$ be the set of $\sim$-classes. We lift the ordering on $\omega$ to $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge 0}$ in the obvious way.

  • Now we're ready to define $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$, via Dedekind cuts: an element of $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$ is a nonempty, downwards-closed, bounded-above subset of $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge0}$. The ordering on $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$ is just $\subseteq$.

With all this in hand, the naive definitions of metric space, Cauchy sequence, and complete metric space translate into the language of set theory directly (if tediously).

  • First, we'll use the von Neumann approach to $\mathbb{N}$: an ordinal is a hereditarily transitive set, ordinals are ordered by $\in$, and the finite ordinals are the ordinals which do not contain any (nonempty) limit ordinal. We then identify $\mathbb{N}$ with the finite ordinals — more jargonily, $\mathbb{N}=\omega$. We define addition and multiplication of ordinals via transfinite recursion as usual.

  • Next, we consider the equivalence relation $\sim$ on $\omega\times(\omega\setminus\{0\})$ as follows: $$\langle a,b\rangle\sim\langle c,d\rangle \iff ad=bc,$$ and we let $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge0}$ be the set of $\sim$-classes. We lift the ordering on $\omega$ to $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge 0}$ in the obvious way.

  • Now we're ready to define $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$, via Dedekind cuts: an element of $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$ is a nonempty, downwards-closed, bounded-above subset of $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge0}$. The ordering on $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$ is just $\subseteq$.

With all this in hand, the naive definitions of metric space, Cauchy sequence, and complete metric space translate into the language of set theory directly (if tediously). The point is that all of this is first-order in set theory, with axioms like Powerset (which, despite what they mean intuitively, are indeed first-order) doing the heavy lifting needed to show that the objects we want actually exist at all. (For a bit more about the nuance of "first-order in set theory," see this recent answer of mine.)

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LSpice
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So just take $X=\mathbb{R}$ and $P(x)$ = "There is a Hilbert space such that ..."…". Per Separation, we get that your collection of reals $A$ is in fact a set. And we may now take its supremum.

EDIT: Per the comments belowcomments below, let me sketch how to define "complete metric space" in the language of set theory. As you'll see, even the sketch is quite lengthy; if there's a particular point you'd like further information on, I suggest asking a separate question at MSE.

The first bulletpoint is standard set-theoretic fare which you'll see treated in the beginning of any text on set theory, so I'll skip it; if you're interested, though, you can start with the wiki page on ordered pairsthe wiki page on ordered pairs.

So all the "meat" is in bulletpoint $2$2. We proceed as follows:

  • First, we'll use the von Neumann approach to $\mathbb{N}$: an ordinal is a hereditarily transitive set, ordinals are ordered by $\in$, and the finite ordinals are the ordinals which do not contain any (nonempty) limit ordinal. We then identify $\mathbb{N}$ with the finite ordinals - more jargonily, $\mathbb{N}=\omega$. We define addition and multiplication of ordinals via transfinite recursion as usual.

  • Next, we consider the equivalence relation $\sim$ on $\omega^2$ as follows: $$\langle a,b\rangle\sim\langle c,d\rangle \iff ad=bc,$$ and we let $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge0}$ be the set of $\sim$-classes. We lift the ordering on $\omega$ to $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge 0}$ in the obvious way.

  • Now we're ready to define $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$, via Dedekind cuts: an element of $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$ is a nonempty, downwards-closed, bounded-above subset of $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge0}$. The ordering on $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$ is just $\subseteq$.

So just take $X=\mathbb{R}$ and $P(x)$ = "There is a Hilbert space such that ...". Per Separation, we get that your collection of reals $A$ is in fact a set. And we may now take its supremum.

EDIT: Per the comments below, let me sketch how to define "complete metric space" in the language of set theory. As you'll see, even the sketch is quite lengthy; if there's a particular point you'd like further information on, I suggest asking a separate question at MSE.

The first bulletpoint is standard set-theoretic fare which you'll see treated in the beginning of any text on set theory, so I'll skip it; if you're interested, though, you can start with the wiki page on ordered pairs.

So all the "meat" is in bulletpoint $2$. We proceed as follows:

  • First, we'll use the von Neumann approach to $\mathbb{N}$: an ordinal is a hereditarily transitive set, ordinals are ordered by $\in$, and the finite ordinals are the ordinals which do not contain any (nonempty) limit ordinal. We then identify $\mathbb{N}$ with the finite ordinals - more jargonily, $\mathbb{N}=\omega$. We define addition and multiplication of ordinals via transfinite recursion as usual.

  • Next, we consider the equivalence relation $\sim$ on $\omega^2$ as follows: $$\langle a,b\rangle\sim\langle c,d\rangle \iff ad=bc,$$ and we let $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge0}$ be the set of $\sim$-classes. We lift the ordering on $\omega$ to $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge 0}$ in the obvious way.

  • Now we're ready to define $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$, via Dedekind cuts: an element of $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$ is a nonempty, downwards-closed, bounded-above subset of $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge0}$. The ordering on $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$ is just $\subseteq$.

So just take $X=\mathbb{R}$ and $P(x)$ = "There is a Hilbert space such that …". Per Separation, we get that your collection of reals $A$ is in fact a set. And we may now take its supremum.

EDIT: Per the comments below, let me sketch how to define "complete metric space" in the language of set theory. As you'll see, even the sketch is quite lengthy; if there's a particular point you'd like further information on, I suggest asking a separate question at MSE.

The first bulletpoint is standard set-theoretic fare which you'll see treated in the beginning of any text on set theory, so I'll skip it; if you're interested, though, you can start with the wiki page on ordered pairs.

So all the "meat" is in bulletpoint 2. We proceed as follows:

  • First, we'll use the von Neumann approach to $\mathbb{N}$: an ordinal is a hereditarily transitive set, ordinals are ordered by $\in$, and the finite ordinals are the ordinals which do not contain any (nonempty) limit ordinal. We then identify $\mathbb{N}$ with the finite ordinals more jargonily, $\mathbb{N}=\omega$. We define addition and multiplication of ordinals via transfinite recursion as usual.

  • Next, we consider the equivalence relation $\sim$ on $\omega^2$ as follows: $$\langle a,b\rangle\sim\langle c,d\rangle \iff ad=bc,$$ and we let $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge0}$ be the set of $\sim$-classes. We lift the ordering on $\omega$ to $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge 0}$ in the obvious way.

  • Now we're ready to define $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$, via Dedekind cuts: an element of $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$ is a nonempty, downwards-closed, bounded-above subset of $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge0}$. The ordering on $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$ is just $\subseteq$.

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Noah Schweber
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EDIT: Per the comments below, let me sketch how to define "complete metric space" in the language of set theory. As you'll see, even the sketch is quite lengthy; if there's a particular point you'd like further information on, I suggest asking a separate question at MSE.

Here's the sequence of definitions we need to whip up:

  1. We need to talk about ordered pairs, functions, and Cartesian products.

  2. We need to build $\mathbb{N}$, so that we can build $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge 0}$, so that we can build $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$; along the way we'll need the notions of equivalence relation and equivalence class, of course.

  3. While the previous two points will be enough to define metric spaces ("An ordered pair $(X,\delta)$ where $X$ is a set and $\delta:X^2\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ such that [stuff]"), to define complete metric spaces we'll also need the notions of infinite sequence and equivalence relation/class.

The first bulletpoint is standard set-theoretic fare which you'll see treated in the beginning of any text on set theory, so I'll skip it; if you're interested, though, you can start with the wiki page on ordered pairs.

The third is really the first in disguise: an infinite sequence is just a function with domain $\mathbb{N}$.

So all the "meat" is in bulletpoint $2$. We proceed as follows:

  • First, we'll use the von Neumann approach to $\mathbb{N}$: an ordinal is a hereditarily transitive set, ordinals are ordered by $\in$, and the finite ordinals are the ordinals which do not contain any (nonempty) limit ordinal. We then identify $\mathbb{N}$ with the finite ordinals - more jargonily, $\mathbb{N}=\omega$. We define addition and multiplication of ordinals via transfinite recursion as usual.

  • Next, we consider the equivalence relation $\sim$ on $\omega^2$ as follows: $$\langle a,b\rangle\sim\langle c,d\rangle \iff ad=bc,$$ and we let $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge0}$ be the set of $\sim$-classes. We lift the ordering on $\omega$ to $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge 0}$ in the obvious way.

  • Now we're ready to define $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$, via Dedekind cuts: an element of $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$ is a nonempty, downwards-closed, bounded-above subset of $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge0}$. The ordering on $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$ is just $\subseteq$.

With all this in hand, the naive definitions of metric space, Cauchy sequence, and complete metric space translate into the language of set theory directly (if tediously).


$^1$Really I mean "first-order formula," but I don't want to get too much into the details.

$^1$Really I mean "first-order formula," but I don't want to get too much into the details.

EDIT: Per the comments below, let me sketch how to define "complete metric space" in the language of set theory. As you'll see, even the sketch is quite lengthy; if there's a particular point you'd like further information on, I suggest asking a separate question at MSE.

Here's the sequence of definitions we need to whip up:

  1. We need to talk about ordered pairs, functions, and Cartesian products.

  2. We need to build $\mathbb{N}$, so that we can build $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge 0}$, so that we can build $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$; along the way we'll need the notions of equivalence relation and equivalence class, of course.

  3. While the previous two points will be enough to define metric spaces ("An ordered pair $(X,\delta)$ where $X$ is a set and $\delta:X^2\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ such that [stuff]"), to define complete metric spaces we'll also need the notions of infinite sequence and equivalence relation/class.

The first bulletpoint is standard set-theoretic fare which you'll see treated in the beginning of any text on set theory, so I'll skip it; if you're interested, though, you can start with the wiki page on ordered pairs.

The third is really the first in disguise: an infinite sequence is just a function with domain $\mathbb{N}$.

So all the "meat" is in bulletpoint $2$. We proceed as follows:

  • First, we'll use the von Neumann approach to $\mathbb{N}$: an ordinal is a hereditarily transitive set, ordinals are ordered by $\in$, and the finite ordinals are the ordinals which do not contain any (nonempty) limit ordinal. We then identify $\mathbb{N}$ with the finite ordinals - more jargonily, $\mathbb{N}=\omega$. We define addition and multiplication of ordinals via transfinite recursion as usual.

  • Next, we consider the equivalence relation $\sim$ on $\omega^2$ as follows: $$\langle a,b\rangle\sim\langle c,d\rangle \iff ad=bc,$$ and we let $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge0}$ be the set of $\sim$-classes. We lift the ordering on $\omega$ to $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge 0}$ in the obvious way.

  • Now we're ready to define $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$, via Dedekind cuts: an element of $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$ is a nonempty, downwards-closed, bounded-above subset of $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge0}$. The ordering on $\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$ is just $\subseteq$.

With all this in hand, the naive definitions of metric space, Cauchy sequence, and complete metric space translate into the language of set theory directly (if tediously).


$^1$Really I mean "first-order formula," but I don't want to get too much into the details.

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Noah Schweber
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Noah Schweber
  • 21.2k
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  • 110
  • 331
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