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Noah Schweber
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Answering your more specific question: yes, it$^*$ can be so characterized, in the following way:

  • First, start with the axioms of second-order Zermelo set theory with choice (without Replacement). Note that $V_\mu$ is a model of this if $\mu$ is the first limit of inaccessibles - indeed, as long as $\lambda$ is a limit ordinal greater than $\omega$ we have that $V_\lambda$ satisfies second-order Zermelo set theory with choice.

  • Next, add "For every ordinal $\alpha$ there is an inaccessible cardinal $>\alpha$."

  • Finally, add "There is no ordinal which is a limit of inaccessibles."

This characterizes $V_\mu$ up to isomorphism.


$^*$Or rather, the union of the first $\omega$-many $V_\kappa$s with $\kappa$ inaccessible is so characterizable; in general, if $(\kappa_i)_{i\in\omega}$ is an increasing sequence of inaccessibles there is of course no reason to believe that $\bigcup_{i\in\omega} V_{\kappa_i}=V_{\sup\{\kappa_i:i\in\omega\}}$ is so characterizable.

Noah Schweber
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