nLab constructible universe

The constructible universe

Context

Foundations

foundations

The basis of it all

 Set theory

set theory

Foundational axioms

foundational axioms

Removing axioms

The constructible universe

Definition

Gödel’s constructible universe LL is a subclass of the von Neumann universe VV of well-founded pure sets. It is defined by transfinite induction as L= αL αL = \bigcup_\alpha L_\alpha where

L 0=L_0 = \emptyset
L α+1=P(L α)I(L α{L α}) L_{\alpha +1} = P(L_\alpha) \cap I(L_\alpha \cup \{L_\alpha\})

and if α\alpha is a limit ordinal:

L α= β<αL β L_\alpha = \bigcup_{\beta\lt \alpha} L_\beta

Here, for XX a pure set, by I(X)I(X) we denote the smallest set containing XX and closed with respect to the operations of Cartesian product, set difference, unordered pair, ordered pair, taking the domain of a binary relation, and performing a permutation of an ordered triple. This definition, while less technical, offers different levels than the standard set-theoretical definition, for example the ordinal α\alpha need not be a member of L α+1L_{\alpha+1}.

Alternatively, we may say that

L α= β<αP(L β)I(L β{L β}) L_\alpha = \bigcup_{\beta \lt \alpha} P(L_\beta) \cap I(L_\beta \cup \{L_\beta\})

for any ordinal α\alpha (00, successor, or limit).

The elements of the constructible universe are called constructible sets; the idea is similar to the constructible sets in topology and algebraic geometry.

AnonymousCoward: Does there exist a structural set theory definition of a constructible set and the constructible universe?

Properties

LL is a transitive big class containing all the ordinals.

There is a standard definition of a well-ordering of LL, < L{}_L, therefore the sets in this class can be effectively enumerated by von Neumann ordinals, via the ranking function of < L{}_L.

As inner model

In fact, LL is a model of the set theory (consider ZF), namely the smallest transitive class containing all the ordinals. Indeed, we can well-order all sets by a well-ordering < L{}_L and therefore the axiom of choice holds in LL. The generalized continuum hypothesis also holds in LL. Note that properties that hold in VV need not hold in LL.

Relation to the von Neumann universe

L=VL=V is an axiom which states that every set is in LL. This collapses the von Neumann universe VV to the “thinner” inner model LL. The question of whether LVL\neq V can not be decided in ZF. If LVL\neq V then we still do not know how, without an axiom of choice, to produce specific sets that are not constructible.

Given the independence, one may add L=VL=V as an axiom. However, note that formally stating that axiom is more technical (involving ordinals, etc.) than the standard set theory axioms. Moreover, by its restrictiveness, that axiom also rules out many other popular studied axioms (e.g. it is inconsistent with the existence of “large” large cardinals such as measurable cardinals and above).

References

See also:

Last revised on November 15, 2023 at 09:35:30. See the history of this page for a list of all contributions to it.