Minimal model (set theory)

Minimal model (set theory)

In set theory, a minimal model is a minimal standard model of ZFC. Minimal models were introduced by (Shepherdson 1951, 1952, 1953).

The existence of a minimal model cannot be proved in ZFC, even assuming that ZFC is consistent, but follows from the existence of a standard model as follows. If there is a set W in V which is a standard model of ZF, and the ordinal κ is the set of ordinals which occur in W, then Lκ is the class of constructible sets of W. If there is a set which is a standard model of ZF, then the smallest such set is such a Lκ. This set is called the minimal model of ZFC, and also satisfies the axiom of constructibility V=L. The downward Löwenheim–Skolem theorem implies that the minimal model (if it exists as a set) is a countable set. More precisely, every element s of the minimal model can be named; in other words there is a first order sentence φ(x) such that s is the unique element of the minimal model for which φ(s) is true.

Of course, any consistent theory must have a model, so even within the minimal model of set theory there are sets which are models of ZF (assuming ZF is consistent). However, those set models are non-standard. In particular, they do not use the normal element relation and they are not well founded.

If there is no standard model then the minimal model cannot exist as a set. However in this case the class of all constructible sets plays the same role as the minimal model and has similar properties (though it is now a proper class rather than a countable set).

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • set theory — the branch of mathematics that deals with relations between sets. [1940 45] * * * Branch of mathematics that deals with the properties of sets. It is most valuable as applied to other areas of mathematics, which borrow from and adapt its… …   Universalium

  • Minimal model — In theoretical physics, the term minimal model usually refers to a special class of conformal field theories that generalize the Ising model, or to some closely related representations of the Virasoro algebra. It is a simple CFT model with finite …   Wikipedia

  • Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory — Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory, with the axiom of choice, commonly abbreviated ZFC, is the standard form of axiomatic set theory and as such is the most common foundation of mathematics.ZFC consists of a single primitive ontological notion, that of… …   Wikipedia

  • Minimal logic — Minimal logic, or minimal calculus, is a symbolic logic system originally developed by Ingebrigt Johansson. It is a variant of intuitionistic logic that rejects not only the classical law of excluded middle (as intuitionistic logic does), but… …   Wikipedia

  • Set-theoretic definition of natural numbers — Several ways have been proposed to define the natural numbers using set theory.The contemporary standardIn standard (ZF) set theory the natural numbersare defined recursively by 0 = {} (the empty set) and n +1 = n ∪ { n }. Then n = {0,1,..., n… …   Wikipedia

  • Model of Hierarchical Complexity — The model of hierarchical complexity is a framework for scoring how complex a behavior is. It quantifies the order of hierarchical complexity of a task based on mathematical principles of how the information is organized and of information… …   Wikipedia

  • Countable set — Countable redirects here. For the linguistic concept, see Count noun. Not to be confused with (recursively) enumerable sets. In mathematics, a countable set is a set with the same cardinality (number of elements) as some subset of the set of… …   Wikipedia

  • Inner model — In mathematical logic, suppose T is a theory in the language :L = langle in angleof set theory.If M is a model of L describing a set theory and N is a class of M such that : langle N, in M, cdots angle is a model of T containing all ordinals of M …   Wikipedia

  • Stable model semantics — The concept of a stable model, or answer set, is used to define a declarative semantics for logic programs with negation as failure. This is one of several standard approaches to the meaning of negation in logic programming, along with program… …   Wikipedia

  • Relational model — The relational model for database management is a database model based on first order predicate logic, first formulated and proposed in 1969 by Edgar Codd. [ Derivability, Redundancy, and Consistency of Relations Stored in Large Data Banks , E.F …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”