Questions tagged [set-theory]
forcing, large cardinals, descriptive set theory, infinite combinatorics, cardinal characteristics, forcing axioms, ultrapowers, measures, reflection, pcf theory, models of set theory, axioms of set theory, independence, axiom of choice, continuum hypothesis, determinacy, Borel equivalence relations, Boolean-valued models, embeddings, orders, relations, transfinite recursion, set theory as a foundation of mathematics, the philosophy of set theory.
1,112 questions
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First-order definable bijection between $P(On)$ (or $No$) and $V$? (Is this equivalent to $V = HOD$?)
It is known that locally one can ``code'' any set in the von Neumann universe $V$ by a set of ordinals. But can one do this globally? In other words, is there a first-order definable bijection $P(On)...
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Who proved "sets in every generic are already in the ground model?"
Suppose $\mathbb{P}$ is a notion of forcing in the ground model $V$, and $X$ is a set which is in $V[G]$ for every $\mathbb{P}$-generic filter $G$. Then $X\in V$ already, by a fairly simple (if ...
- 20.5k
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Can we separate the almost-disjointness sunflower numbers?
This question concerns a new cardinal characteristic of the
continuum that arose out of issues in my answer to the question,
Sunflowers in maximal almost disjoint
families.
A family $\cal A$ of ...
- 236k
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Is the functor of points of a scheme cofinally small?
Background: In functorial algebraic geometry one would like to consider the category of all functors $\mathsf{CRing} \to \mathsf{Set}$ and define/characterize the category of schemes as a full ...
- 63.1k
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What is the depth of the "provability hierarchy"?
I am not a logician or set theorist, so hopefully this makes sense. Let $T$ be a theory which is expressive enough to make statements like "Statement $A$ has a proof in $T$"; for example, $...
- 23k
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Concerning Silver's result
Jack Silver proved that if $x$ is a real so that every $x$-admissible ordinal is a cardinal in $L$, then $0^{\sharp}$ exists.
I wonder whether various weaker or stronger versions of Silver's result ...
- 4,201
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605
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Example of an uncountable scattered space with some properties
This might be an easy question, maybe the example I'm looking for is common knowledge. As always, recall that a topological space $X$ is scattered if and only if every non-empty subset $Y$ of $X$ ...
- 674
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564
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Is the inclusion version of Kunen inconsistency theorem true?
The relations $\in$ and $\subsetneq$ seem so similar in some sense. For example they are equal on ordinal numbers. So there is a natural question about their possible similar behaviors on the ...
user36136
11
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Are all Grothendieck topologies on Set equivalent?
The category $\textbf{Set}$ can be given a Grothendieck topology where the covering families are jointly surjective families of set inclusions $\{X_i\stackrel{\phi_i}{\hookrightarrow} X\}\in\mathrm{...
- 23.3k
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794
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When are two forcing posets "the same"?
Let $B$ and $C$ be complete Boolean algebras. To avoid triviality I may also want them to be atomless. For $b\in B$ nonzero, denote $B\upharpoonright b=\{p\in B:p\leq b\}$, which can be viewed as a ...
- 877
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679
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Sets that are not $\infty$-Borel
I have seen a few techinques for proving that certain sets of real numbers are $\infty$-Borel (definition) but it just occurred to me that I don't know of any way to prove that a set of real numbers ...
- 5,471
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Does there exist an uncountable partition of a Polish space so that the union of any collection of blocks is Borel?
Is it consistent that there exists a partition $P$ of the real number line $\mathbb{R}$ such that $|P|>\aleph_{0}$ but where $\bigcup R$ is Borel whenever $R\subseteq P$?
If $2^{\aleph_{0}}<2^{\...
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377
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Model for "$\kappa$ limit cardinal iff $2^\kappa$ limit cardinal"
Is there a model of ${\sf (ZFC)}$ such that in the model we have that $\kappa$ is a limit cardinal if and only if $2^\kappa$ is a limit cardinal?
- 48.9k
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Philosophy of forcing and ctm
I asked a similar question on SE before and received an answer. Not completely convinced, I decided to ask it here with some modifications. Note: I understand how forcing works and how it proves ...
- 237
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4
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Direct axiomatization of ordinal and cardinal numbers
Again, this question is related (**) to a previous one:
in standard books on basic set theory, after stating the axioms of ZFC, ordinal numbers are introduced early on. Afterwards cardinals appear: ...
- 7,853
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Are inclusions "canonical" injections?
[Background: I asked a vague question the other day, but as a result of the answers, particularly Andrej Bauer's, I now have a precise question]
Summary of question: the inclusions are a particularly ...
- 41.4k
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Source on smooth equivalence relations under continuous reducibility?
This question was asked and bountied at MSE, but received no answer.
In the context of Borel reducibility, smooth equivalence relations (see the introduction of this paper) are rather boring since ...
- 20.5k
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Terminology about trees
In set theory, a tree is usually defined as a partial order such that the set of elements below any given one is well-ordered. I am interested in the class of partial orders $P$ such that for every $...
- 18.6k
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Erdős cardinals and $0^\sharp$
It is well-known that if the Erdős cardinal $\kappa(\omega_1)$ exists, then $0^\sharp$ exists, but what if $\kappa(\lambda)$ exists for a limit ordinal $\omega_1^L\leq \lambda<\omega_1$? Does this ...
- 1,688
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417
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A variant of the Moore-Mrowka problem
A space $X$ is said to be sequential if whenever $A \subset X$ is not closed then $A$ contains a sequence converging to a point outside of $A$.
A space $X$ is said to have countable tightness if for ...
- 4,413
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Set-theoretical multiverse and foundations
I just had a look to the article The set theoretical multiverse by (mo user) J.D.Hamkins. Not being a logician and not knowing forcing techniques, I couldn't fully appreciate the mathematical ideas, ...
- 23.3k
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The egg and the chicken
After posting this question (in particular after Carl's and Peter's answers) I have realized that the answer seems to depend on a basic problem in foundations.
Most mathematicians accept as given the ...
- 14.7k
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750
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Is there a compact space with no countably generated dense subspace?
This is a reformulation of this MO question which recieved little or no attention due to the fact that the OP gave no motivation whatsoever. I found the question quite interesting and decided to give ...
- 11.5k
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Is set-induction relatively consistent?
One way to state the axiom of foundation is that the $\in$ relation on any transitive set is well-founded in the following sense:
A relation $(X,\prec)$ is well-founded if for any subset $S\subseteq ...
- 66.8k
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636
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Is the Banach game quantifier "intractable"? (Becker's guess)
(This is a revised version of the original question. Below I work in $\mathsf{ZF+DC+AD}$, but I would be happy to add further axioms if appropriate: $\mathsf{ZF+DC+AD_\mathbb{R}}$, for example, seems ...
- 20.5k
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2k
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Generating family for the Lebesgue $\sigma$-algebra
Let $X$ be a set, and $\cal F$ a family of subsets of $X$, let $\Sigma(\cal F)$ denote the smallest $\sigma$-algebra containing $\cal F$. We can also define $\Sigma(\cal F)$ internally using a ...
- 39.8k
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580
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Can you have many independent reals?
Working in $\sf ZFC$, is it provable, or at least consistent (say, over $L$), that you have $\aleph_1$ forcings, $\Bbb P_\alpha$ such that:
$\Bbb P_\alpha$ is c.c.c.
$\Bbb P_\alpha$ adds a real which ...
- 39.8k
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759
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Full conditional probabilities and versions of AC?
A probability is a finitely additive measure on a boolean algebra with total measure $1$.
A function $P:\scr B \times (\scr B - \{ 0 \})$ is a full conditional probability on $\scr B$ (for a boolean ...
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790
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Must $L_\alpha$ be correct about well-foundedness?
If $R \in L_\alpha$ is a binary relation so that $L_\alpha$ thinks $R$ is well-founded, must $R$ truly be well-founded? (Edit) That is, if $L_\alpha$ thinks that every nonempty subset of the domain of ...
- 2,167
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What's the exact consistency strength of this axiom system for classes and sets?
Notation: Let $\phi$ be any formula in $\mathsf{FOL}({=},{\in}, W)$; let $\varphi$ be any formula in $\mathsf{FOL}({=},{\in})$ having $x$ free, and whose parameters are among $x_1,\dotsc,x_n$.
Note: “$...
- 11.3k
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Finite order arithmetic and ETCS
I'm looking for a reference to the statement that Lawvere's Elementary Theory of the Category of Sets (ETCS) is equal in proof-theoretic strength to finite order arithmetic. The person who informed ...
- 27.7k
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1
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326
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What is known about topological groups of countable spread in ZFC?
A topological space has countable spread if every discrete subspace is at most countable.
By Theorem 8.10 in Todorcevic's book "Partition Problems in Topology", PFA implies that each regular space $X$...
- 41.9k
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Number of paths through infinite trees with given "growth rates"
(Preface: This may be a naive or easy question for experts....)
Consider an infinite tree, rooted on the left, where each node has two children; the number of nodes at each level (distance from the ...
- 4,529
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480
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Is every set smaller than a regular cardinal, constructively?
Constructively, my only interest in regular cardinals is in terms of the “$\Sigma$-universes” they generate. By a $\Sigma$-universe, I mean a collection of triples $(X,Y,f: X \to Y)$ closed under base ...
- 64k
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Axiom of choice and non-measurable set
We know that existence of a Lebesgue non-measurable set follows from the Axiom Of Choice. Is the converse true? That is, does the existence of a Lebesgue non-measurable set imply the Axiom Of Choice?...
- 101
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Can an ultrapower be undone by forcing?
I am not 100% certain this question is appropriate for MO; I may just be missing something obvious. Also, I vaguely recall a similar question being asked here a while ago, but I can't find it; if it ...
- 20.5k
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Does every linear cover contain a minimal cover?
This is a follow-up question to an older question.
Let $X\neq \emptyset$ be a set. We say that ${\cal C}\subseteq {\cal P}(X)$ is a cover if $\bigcup {\cal C} = X$, and we call ${\cal C}$ linear if $|...
- 48.9k
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How much do idempotent ultrafilters generate in terms of semigroups?
It is known that the set of ultrafilters on, say, the natural numbers $\mathbb{N}$, can naturally be endowed with the structure of a compact topological left semigroup (which fails to be anything ...
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Does every consistent extension of ZF have a model in the minimal transitive model of ZFC?
Suppose there exists a transitive model of $\sf ZFC$. Is it the case that every consistent theory that extends $\sf ZF$ must have a model that is an element of the minimal transitive model of $\sf ZFC$...
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questions about worldly cardinals
A cardinal $\kappa$ is worldly if $V_\kappa$ is a model of ZFC.
How many $\beth$-fixed points are there smaller than the smallest worldly cardinal?
How many worldly cardinals are there smaller than ...
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514
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Existence of a regular subposet which collapses everything except the top cardinal
Suppose $\delta$ is an inaccessible cardinal, and $\mathbb{P}$ is the Levy Collapse $\text{Col}(\kappa, \delta)$ which adds a surjection from $\kappa \to \delta$ (for some regular $\kappa < \delta$)...
- 2,231
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Does every set have a rigid self-map?
The question was asked on Mathematics Stackexchange
but has remained unanswered so far.
A self-map is a map $f:X\to X$ from a set $X$ to itself. There is an obvious notion of morphism, and thus of ...
- 4,416
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422
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Climbing up subsets of $\omega_1$ using reals
This is a bit of an odd question, so I've included the motivation below the fold.
Throughout we work in ZFC+"$\omega_1^r$ is countable for all $r\in\mathbb{R}$:"
Say that a set $X\subset\omega_1$ is ...
- 20.5k
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367
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Feferman's universes for proof assistants?
This question was prompted by a discussion from another MO question about the consistency of ZFC. There are some mathematicians who are comfortable with ZFC but uneasy with large cardinals. For them,...
- 82.7k
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350
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What is the smallest density of a metrizable space without countable separation?
A Tychonoff space $X$ is defined to have countable separation if some (equivalently, any) compactification $bX$ of $X$ contains a countable family $\mathcal U$ of open sets such that for any points $x\...
- 41.9k
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Can one define in ZFC a directed system of embeddings on the class of all linear orders realizing the surreal line as the direct limit?
Consider the surreal line $\langle\newcommand\No{\text{No}}\No,\leq\rangle$, in its order structure only. This is a proper class linear order, which is universal for all set-sized linear orders, as ...
- 236k
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Can we always "sharpen" interpretations?
For the purposes of this question, a $T$-interpretation with arity $n$ will be a tuple $\Phi=(\delta,\eta,F)$ where
$\delta$ and $\eta$ are individual formulas of arity $n$ and $2n$ respectively,
$T$...
- 20.5k
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1k
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Within ZFC, is $2^{\aleph_0}<2^{\aleph_1}$ provable/independent?
So, I ask whether from the ZFC axioms one can prove X that every uncountable set has strictly more than continuum many subsets, or whether X is independent of the ZFC axioms. Note that (within ZFC) ...
- 3,584
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470
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Is the set of permissible numbers of models of various cardinalities computable?
This question arose in the comments to this question.
Let $X$ be the set of pairs $(m,k)$ such that there is some (consistent complete countable first-order) theory $T$ with exactly $m$ models of size ...
- 20.5k
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3
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545
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A model of CH +$\lnot \diamondsuit$
All of the models of CH which I know of also satisfy $\diamondsuit$. What is the easiest way to produce a model of CH wherein $\diamondsuit$ is false?
- 103