Questions tagged [ordinal-analysis]

The tag has no usage guidance.

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
6 votes
0 answers
150 views

Iterated $\Pi^1_1$-reflection and non-Gandiness underrepresented in ordinal analyses?

This is a copy of Math StackExchange question #4395977, which I felt was more appropriate for MathOverflow. Note on terminology: "admissible", "$(^+)$-stable", and "$\Pi^1_1$-...
C7X's user avatar
  • 1,278
2 votes
0 answers
150 views

How closely do ordinal collapsing functions relate to Skolem hulls?

Ordinal collapsing functions appear in proof theory, and they are used to name large countable ordinals by using uncountable ordinals. Previously I posted a question about why $\psi(\alpha)$ is ...
C7X's user avatar
  • 1,278
1 vote
0 answers
105 views

Is there an error in W. Buchholz's paper "A simplified version of local predicativity"?

I want to self-learn proof theory. It seems that the operator controlled derivation method is important in this field, and the paper in the title is the first paper that uses this method. So I'm ...
Reflecting_Ordinal's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
354 views

A possible flaw in Theorem 14.17 in Kurt Schütte's -Proof Theory-

Reading Chapter V, pages (73-97) in Proof Theory (Springer, 1977), by Kurt Schütte, I have encountered a peculiar problem which puzzles me. On page 96, a map $\rm{Nr}:\overline{\rm{OT}}\rightarrow \...
Victor's user avatar
  • 2,076
6 votes
1 answer
225 views

Does $\text{ACA}_0$ + True Arithmetic prove the well-foundedness of every recursive ordinal?

As discussed in Noah Schweber's answer to What is the proof-theoretic ordinal of true arithmetic?, it is somewhat ambiguous what “the proof-theoretic ordinal of True Arithmetic” might mean. In one ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
281 views

How to build large recursive ordinals using Dillator and/or Ptykes?

I've only recently learned about Girard's theory of Dilators and Ptykes, and I find this theory very elegant, but it is not clear at all to me whether/how it can be used to produce ordinal notations ...
Simon Henry's user avatar
  • 40.2k
1 vote
0 answers
120 views

Is $\sf \Gamma_0$ the proof theoretic ordinal of this kind of predicative class theory?

Adopting the approach of Mono-sorted $\sf NBG$, define sets as elements of classes, then axiomatize: Extensionality, Predicative Class comprehension, emptyset, in the usual manner along mono-sorted $\...
Zuhair Al-Johar's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
123 views

What is the proof theoretic ordinal of this kind of predicative type-set theory?

The following is a kind of Predicative Type Set Theory. The question is about what is exactly the proof theoretic ordinal of this theory? Is it lower than the one expected for predicative theories, i....
Zuhair Al-Johar's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
260 views

How closely do ordinal collapsing functions relate to Mostowski collapse?

Ordinal collapsing functions (such as Rathjen's $\psi_\pi$-functions, not the Levy collapse function) name large countable ordinals by mapping larger ordinals below some "large" ordinal, ...
C7X's user avatar
  • 1,278
5 votes
0 answers
111 views

What's the purpose of $\mathsf M\text-\mathsf P$-expressions?

In ordinal notations such as Stegert's (Ordinal Proof Theory of Kripke–Platek Set Theory Augmented by Strong Reflection Principles) and Rathjen's (An Ordinal Analysis of parameter free $\Pi_2^1$-...
Binary198's user avatar
  • 704
0 votes
0 answers
143 views

How to define BHO alternatives below admissible ordinals?

Bachmann-Howard ordinal is a recursive ordinal. It's not that large compared to those proof-theoretic ordinals of stronger theories, but the definition of BHO is sufficient to illustrate how ...
Reflecting_Ordinal's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
246 views

Does this restriction on powersets in ZF have a proof theoretic ordinal?

If we add to the language of set theory a total one place function symbol $\mathcal P$ standing for powerset operator, and then add to ZF-Power the following axioms: Power: if $\phi$ is a formula in ...
Zuhair Al-Johar's user avatar
6 votes
0 answers
177 views

Ordinal strength of iterated truth theories

Consider the theory ${\rm PA}^{\mathbb{T}}$ obtained by adding a truth predicate to Peano arithmetic, applicable to sentences of the unaugmented language and satisfying the compositionality axioms $\...
Nik Weaver's user avatar
  • 42.1k
13 votes
1 answer
383 views

What is the proof-theoretic ordinal of bare $\mathsf{NFU}$?

On the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy article on alternative axiomatic set theories, it is stated without reference that bare $\mathsf{NFU}$ (i.e., $\mathsf{NFU}$ without the axiom of infinity) ...
James Hanson's user avatar
  • 10.3k
5 votes
0 answers
234 views

Higher order arithmetic, hierarchies and proof theoretic ordinals

I asked this question on MSE some days ago but I have not received any answer so I have decided to post it here. I would like to consider a generalization of the notation $\Pi$ and $\Sigma$ used for ...
user115415's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
523 views

Iterated Gentzen: or, a Sith objection to the proof of consistency of PA

$\DeclareMathOperator\PRA{PRA}\DeclareMathOperator\WF{WF}\DeclareMathOperator\Con{Con}\DeclareMathOperator\PA{PA}$Preamble: In the year … in a galaxy far far away, a nasty Sith named Darth Dubious (...
Mirco A. Mannucci's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
237 views

$Π_2$ strength of KP

I am looking for a characterization of the $Π_2$ statements provable in KP. Here, KP (often denoted KPω) is the Kripke-Platek set theory, including infinity and full induction on ordinals. Here is ...
Dmytro Taranovsky's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
616 views

Gentzen's result on PA

The Wikipedia states that Gentzen proved that "in modern terms, the proof-theoretic ordinal of PA is $\varepsilon_0$." Further down, the article defines what the "proof theoretic ordinal" of a theory ...
Gabriel Nivasch's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
247 views

Is there a relation between type (maximum linearization) of a computable WQO and the ordinal strength of a theory needed to prove it?

Background: Given a well partial order $X$ (more commonly studied with antisymmetry dropped as well-quasi-orders, but I'm going to say well partial order to make this definition simpler, obviously ...
Harry Altman's user avatar
  • 2,575
6 votes
0 answers
370 views

What is proof-theoretic ordinal of weak first-order arithmetic?

According to Wikipedia(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordinal_analysis) and nlab(https://ncatlab.org/nlab/show/ordinal+analysis), a proof-theoretic ordinal of $\mathsf{PRA}$ is $\omega^\omega$. ...
Alwe's user avatar
  • 178
0 votes
3 answers
979 views

Regarding Gentzen's note regarding 'Godel-points' (i.e., "Where is the Godel-point hiding?")

Consider the following note written by Gerhard Gentzen in early 1932, on the onset of his work on a consistency proof for arithmetic: The axioms of arithmetic are obviously correct, and the ...
Thomas Benjamin's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
431 views

What does "can almost be proven in PA" mean regarding Theorem 2 of Timothy Chow's expository article, "The Consistency of Arithmetic"?

In his expository article, "The Consistency of Arithmetic" (MSN), Prof. Chow has the following theorems: Theorem 1. If $a_1, a_2, a_3,\dotsc$ is a sequence of ordinals and $a_i \ge a_j$ whenever $...
Thomas Benjamin's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
474 views

What system suffices to show the strength of PRA is $\omega^\omega$?

Russell O'Connor wrote in 2009 (link): PRA has consistency strength equivalent to the well-foundness of $\omega^\omega$, which can be stated again as the termination of some other program on all ...
David Roberts's user avatar
  • 33.9k
3 votes
0 answers
137 views

Partial well-ordering of formulas

Given a theory $T$, for arbitrary formulas $φ$ and $ψ$ that provably in $T$ denote an ordinal, set $[φ]_T < [ψ]_T$ iff provably in $T$, the ordinal denoted by $φ$ is less than the ordinal denoted ...
Dmytro Taranovsky's user avatar
8 votes
0 answers
264 views

Natural examples of recursive pseudowellorderings

Question: What are some natural examples of recursive pseudowellorderings? By natural, I mean in the style of reasonable ordinal notation systems as opposed to dependent on a Gödel numbering or an ...
Dmytro Taranovsky's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
338 views

Ordinal analysis and nonrecursive ordinals

Ordinal analysis is typically described as characterizing recursive ordinals in a theory $T$, but there is a sense in which it can characterize all $T$-ordinals, even those that are nonrecursive. ...
Dmytro Taranovsky's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
811 views

Going beyond the strength of Peano arithmetic "without sets"

First-order arithmetic is fairly weak, as measured for example by its consistency strength. When a stronger theory is desired, it is common to work with (fragments of) second-order arithmetic or set ...
Robin Saunders's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
276 views

Correspondence between proof-theoretic ordinals and fast growing functions?

For theories with well known proof-theoretic-ordinals, (what) is there a correspondence between their proof-theoretic-ordinal and (ordinal indexed families of?) fast growing functions provable total ...
Łukasz Lew's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
520 views

What is the proof-theoretic ordinal of KPh?

If we work in this notation: $$C_0 (\alpha, \beta) = \beta \cup \lbrace 0 \rbrace$$ $$C_{n+1} (\alpha, \beta) = \lbrace \gamma + \delta, \omega^\gamma, \Omega_{\gamma}, I_{\gamma}, \psi_\pi(\eta) | \...
Boris Dimitrov's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
394 views

A question about ordinal analysis

I have several questions related to ordinal analysis. According to [1], here are the proof-theoretic ordinal of some well-known theories (using $|T|$ do denotate the proof-theoretic ordinal of $T$): ...
Julian Barathieu's user avatar
8 votes
4 answers
1k views

Formalizations of The Matchstick Diagram Representation of Ordinals

The matchstick diagram is a really interesting and intuitive method of representing countable ordinals. However, because of how difficult it is to graphically represent ordinals with it, I started ...
Keith Millar's user avatar
  • 1,242
10 votes
1 answer
313 views

$Π^0_1$ Proof Ordinals

Natural theories extending EFA (exponential/elementary function arithmetic) are well-ordered by $Π^0_1$ provability, and we would like a formal definition of the well-ordering that is robust yet as ...
Dmytro Taranovsky's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
362 views

Complexity of induction formulas in proof theoretic ordinals

According to The Art of Ordinal Analysis, the proof theoretic ordinal of a theory $T$ is the least ordinal $\alpha$ such that: $${\bf ERA}+TI(\alpha,ECP)\vdash Con(T)$$ In above definition, $ECP$ ...
Erfan Khaniki's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
432 views

Existence of well-ordering of epsilon_0 in weak theories

In a discussion on a youtube video on the hydra game I jokingly mentioned how everyone was assuming that $\varepsilon_0$ was well-ordered. This lead to a bit of disagreement (in a nice way!) about the ...
David Roberts's user avatar
  • 33.9k
5 votes
1 answer
396 views

What countable ordinals are called $\kappa_\alpha$?

Jervell has a notation for countable ordinals up to the small Veblen ordinal using trees: • Herman Ruge Jervell, How to wellorder finite trees and get good ordinal notations, Berkeley Logic ...
John Baez's user avatar
  • 21.5k
14 votes
2 answers
1k views

How can any theory prove well-foundedness of ordinals above $\omega_1^{\text{CK}}$?

$\newcommand{\omegaoneck}{\omega_1^{\text{CK}}}$ Pardon the extremely basic question - this isn't quite my area - but I'm confused about the definition of proof theoretic ordinals. The proof ...
John Gowers's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
1k views

Why is there a need for ordinal analysis?

Consider the Peano axioms. There exists a model for them (namely, the natural numbers with a ordering relation $<$, binary function $+$, and constant term $0$). Therefore, by the model existence ...
user3730940's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
667 views

Which ordinals are proof-theoretic ordinals?

Few months ago I have posted this question on MO, but I must admit that at the time, admittedly, I had no idea on how technical proof-theoretic considerations can be. I have decided to revise this ...
Wojowu's user avatar
  • 27.4k
14 votes
1 answer
1k views

Peano arithmetic vs. fast-growing hierarchy with pathological fundamental sequences

Fundamental sequence for a countable limit ordinal $\alpha$ is an increasing sequence $\{\alpha[i]\}$ of ordinals of length $\omega$ such that $\lim_{i\rightarrow\omega}\alpha[i]=\alpha$. There are ...
Wojowu's user avatar
  • 27.4k
12 votes
1 answer
747 views

Which ordinals can be proof-theoretic ordinals of a reasonable theory?

When talking to a friend recently he asked a question - are there any reasonable first-order theories which have proof theoretic ordinal equal to small or large Veblen ordinal? I have then extended ...
Wojowu's user avatar
  • 27.4k
8 votes
2 answers
525 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 ...
Eliezer Yudkowsky's user avatar
28 votes
1 answer
2k 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 ...
Scott Aaronson's user avatar
19 votes
0 answers
576 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 ...
Scott Aaronson's user avatar
40 votes
2 answers
3k 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 ...
Scott Aaronson's user avatar
16 votes
1 answer
561 views

Nontrivial upper bounds on proof-theoretic ordinals of strong theories: do we have any?

Motivated by Consistency of Analysis (second order arithmetic) and Proof-Theoretic Ordinal of ZFC or Consistent ZFC Extensions?, I have the following question: Are there any examples of strong ...
Noah Schweber's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
879 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 $\mathsf{PA}$, ...
Benya's user avatar
  • 141
3 votes
0 answers
827 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 ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
765 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 ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
687 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 ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
668 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 ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar