Skip to main content
2 of 4
removed unwanted comment
Thomas Benjamin
  • 6.1k
  • 1
  • 25
  • 39

Is there a second-order expression of '$\kappa$ is Reinhardt' in $NGB$, where $\kappa$ is a cardinal?

In their paper, "Generalizations of the Kunen inconsistency", (Annals of Pure and Applied Logic 163 (2012) 1872-1890), Hamkins, Kirmayer, and Perlmutter write the following (pg. 1888--I quote Theorem 32, Corollary 34(1), and their commentary on the proofs of the theorem and the corollary preceding Theorem 32):

Theorem 32. Assume only $ZF$ [$NGB$--my comment] There is no nontrivial elementary embedding $j$: $V$ $\rightarrow$ $V$ that is definable from parameters.

Corollary 34. Do not assume $AC$. For any transitive class $M$, there is no nontrivial elementary embedding $j$: $M$ $\rightarrow$ $V$, with a critical point, that is definable from parameters in $V$.

The essence of the proof is the classical observation that the concept of being a Reinhardt cardinal, if consistent, cannot be first order expressible, since if $\kappa$ is the least Reinhardt cardinal, witnessed by $j$: $V$ $\rightarrow$ $V$, then by elementarity $j$($\kappa$) would also be the least Reinhardt cardinal, contrary to $\kappa$ $\lt$ $j$($\kappa$). Indeed, for the same reason, there can be no consistent first-order property $\varphi$($\kappa$) implying that that $\kappa$ is Reinhardt?

also this, from the paragraph below the proof of Theorem 32:

The proof of Theorem 32 worked by observing that if $j$: $V$ $\rightarrow$ $V$ is definable in $V$, even with parameters, then the concept of being Reinhardt with respect to that definition for some parameter is first order expressible [this seems to imply that there are two tiers of functions in $NGB$--one tier for sets and one tier for proper classes (following Bernays' two separate membership relations-- $\in_{set}$ for sets and $\in_{class}$ for classes?)--my comment].

Question: What is the second-order formula that expresses for some cardinal $\kappa$, that "$\kappa$ is a Reinhardt cardinal", and is that second-order formula expressible in $NBG$?

Finally (just to note), I am using the Hamkins, Kirmayer, Prelmutter understanding of $NGB$ ( i.e., $NGB$ without Choice or Global Choice). Others, (such as Yurii Khomskii, in his slide presentation, "Alternative set theories"--look under title on the Web) hold that Global Choice is a class axiom of $NGB$ (on the other hand, Khomskii holds that Replacement is a set axiom- does that mean that Replacement does not hold for proper classes in $NGB$?)

Thomas Benjamin
  • 6.1k
  • 1
  • 25
  • 39