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6
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2answers
178 views
Models of PRA/EFA with induction on $X$ but not $\omega^X$
As I currently understand it, induction on formulas containing $N+1$ first-order quantifiers is required to prove the well-ordering of the ordinal $(\omega \uparrow\uparrow N) < \epsilon_0$, that ...
19
votes
1answer
687 views
Why isn't this a computable description of the ordinal of ZF?
In a previous MO question, I was told by several commenters that
(a) it's known that there exists a computable ordinal $\alpha_{ZF}$ that "encodes the strength of ZF set theory" (i.e., a least ...
14
votes
0answers
193 views
Can Gentzen-style proofs give omega-consistency and beyond?
In 1936, Gentzen famously showed that Primitive Recursive Arithmetic, plus the assumption that the ordinal $\epsilon_0$ is well-founded, is able to prove Con(PA). But of course, Con(PA) doesn't yet ...
27
votes
1answer
931 views
Is there a computable ordinal encoding the proof strength of ZF? Is it knowable?
In comments on Quora (see, for example, here, here, here), Ron Maimon has repeatedly expressed the strong opinion that Hilbert's program was not killed by Gödel's results in the way typically ...
9
votes
1answer
302 views
What is the proof-theoretic ordinal of PA + Con(PA), PA + Con(PA + Con(PA)) etc., and why?
I seem to remember having read that the proof-theoretic ordinal (sup of ordinals the theory can prove well-ordered) of $\mathsf{PA} + \mathsf{Con}(\mathsf{PA})$ is the same as that of $\mathsf{PA}$, ...
1
vote
0answers
425 views
What is the role of the (formalized) omega rule in Ramified Analysis?
In the 1960's, Feferman and Schutte did groundbreaking proof-theoretic work to find out the strength of predicative systems of second-order arithmetic. They used the ramified theory of types, a ...
3
votes
2answers
263 views
What is the proof-theoretic ordinal of Hyperarithmetical Comprehension?
As I discuss in my answer here, it seems to me that Solomon Feferman shows, on pages 10-11 of his seminal 1964 paper "Systems of Predicative Analysis", that if you consider predicative second-order ...
4
votes
1answer
267 views
Can the Burgess-Hazen analysis of Predicative Arithmetic be extended to Transfinite Types?
Around page 300 of his book "Mathematical Thought and its Objects", Charles Parsons discusses the work of Edward Nelson, who believes that mathematical induction is impredicative, because it can be ...
2
votes
0answers
379 views
Is there a notion of “predicative given the real numbers”?
A definition is called impredicative if it involves quantification over a domain that contains the thing being defined. For instance, if you define hereditary property to be a property which applies ...
30
votes
3answers
2k views
Why do stacked quantifiers in PA correspond to ordinals up to $\epsilon_0$?
I am trying to understand why induction up to exactly $\epsilon_0$ is necessary to prove the cut-elimination theorem for first-order Peano Arithmetic; or, as I understand, equivalently, why the length ...
4
votes
1answer
261 views
ERA, PRA, PA, transfinite induction and equivalences
I'm quite sure I don't understand very well the links between proof theoretical ordinals of theories, the axioms of transfinite induction and the objects a theory can prove to exist.
For instance I'm ...
8
votes
2answers
615 views
Ordinal Analysis of Peano Arithmetic with Restricted Induction
If we take Peano Arithmetic and restrict induction to formulas over various fragments of the arithmetic hierarchy, say to the $\Sigma^0_n$ formulas for various $n$ or some other interesting fragments, ...
