nLab element

Contents

This entry is about the concept in mathematics, specifically in set theory/type theory/category theory. For the concept in chemistry see at chemical element.

foundations

Contents

Idea

An element of a set is a thing which “belongs to,” or “is an element of,” that set.

The circularity of this definition is unavoidable in foundational set theories in which “set” is an undefined term. In “definitional” set theories, where “set” is defined in terms of something else, elements are likewise defined in terms of the same “something else.”

If sets (or setoids) are regarded as the semantics of some type theory, then an element of a set is the interpretation of a term of some type.

Generalisations

$\phantom{-}$symbol$\phantom{-}$$\phantom{-}$in logic$\phantom{-}$
$\phantom{A}$$\in$$\phantom{A}$element relation
$\phantom{A}$$\,:$$\phantom{A}$typing relation
$\phantom{A}$$=$$\phantom{A}$equality
$\phantom{A}$$\vdash$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$entailment / sequent$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$$\top$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$true / top$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$$\bot$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$false / bottom$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$$\Rightarrow$$\phantom{A}$implication
$\phantom{A}$$\Leftrightarrow$$\phantom{A}$logical equivalence
$\phantom{A}$$\not$$\phantom{A}$negation
$\phantom{A}$$\neq$$\phantom{A}$negation of equality / apartness$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$$\notin$$\phantom{A}$negation of element relation $\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$$\not \not$$\phantom{A}$negation of negation$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$$\exists$$\phantom{A}$existential quantification$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$$\forall$$\phantom{A}$universal quantification$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$$\wedge$$\phantom{A}$logical conjunction
$\phantom{A}$$\vee$$\phantom{A}$logical disjunction
symbolin type theory (propositions as types)
$\phantom{A}$$\to$$\phantom{A}$function type (implication)
$\phantom{A}$$\times$$\phantom{A}$product type (conjunction)
$\phantom{A}$$+$$\phantom{A}$sum type (disjunction)
$\phantom{A}$$0$$\phantom{A}$empty type (false)
$\phantom{A}$$1$$\phantom{A}$unit type (true)
$\phantom{A}$$=$$\phantom{A}$identity type (equality)
$\phantom{A}$$\simeq$$\phantom{A}$equivalence of types (logical equivalence)
$\phantom{A}$$\sum$$\phantom{A}$dependent sum type (existential quantifier)
$\phantom{A}$$\prod$$\phantom{A}$dependent product type (universal quantifier)
symbolin linear logic
$\phantom{A}$$\multimap$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$linear implication$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$$\otimes$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$multiplicative conjunction$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$$\oplus$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$additive disjunction$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$$\&$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$additive conjunction$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$$\invamp$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$multiplicative disjunction$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$$\;!$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$exponential conjunction$\phantom{A}$

Last revised on July 3, 2018 at 06:48:59. See the history of this page for a list of all contributions to it.