The transitive closure of a set X is usually seen as a set, but it can also be seen as a graph G(X) with V(G)= TC(X) and (x,y) ∈ E(G) iff x ∈ y. Such a (transitive closure) graph reveals irredundantly everything that is to know about the set ("its hidden ∈-structure"). It is known that G(X) ≅ G(Y) iff X = Y.
G(X) obviously
- contains exactly one vertex with no out-arrows
- contains no two vertices with the same parents (→ axiom of extensionality)
- contains no directed loops (→ axiom of foundation)
Is this enough to characterize the class of transitive closure graphs of hereditarily finite sets:
Is there a 1:1 correspondence between the (isomorphism types of) finite digraphs with properties (1)-(3) and $V_\omega$?