Set theory

Summary

Set Theory as a foundational system for mathematics. ZF, ZFC and ZF with Atoms. Relative consistency of the Axiom of Choice, the Continuum Hypothesis, the reals as a countable union of countable sets, the existence of a countable family of pairs without any choice function. Etc.

Content

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Keywords

Set Theory, Relative consistency, ZFC, Ordinals, Cardinals, Transfinite recursion, Relativization, Absoluteness, Constructible universe, L, Axiom of Choice, Continuum hypothesis, Forcing, Generic extensions

Learning Prerequisites

Required courses

MATH-381 Mathematical Logic (or any equivalent course).
In particular ordinal and cardinal numbers, ordinal and cardinal arithmetic will be considered known and admitted.

 

Recommended courses

Mathematical logic (or any equivalent course on first order logic). Warning: without a good understanding of first order logic, students tend to get definitely lost sooner or later.

Important concepts to start the course

 

• 1st order logic
• ordinal and cardinal arithmetics
• elements of proof theory
• very basic knowledge of model theory
• the compactness theorem
• Löwenheim-Skolem theorem
• the completeness theorem for 1st order logic

 

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

• Specify a model of ZFC
• Prove consistency results
• Develop a generic extension
• Argue by transfinite induction
• Decide whether ZFC proves its own consistency
• Formalize the axioms of ZF, AC, CH, DC
• Sketch an inner model
• Justify the axiom of foundation
• Formalize a model in which the reals are a countable union of countable sets
• Produce a model in which a countable set of pairs has no choice function
• Create a model in which the finite subsets of an infinite set is mapped onto the set of all its subsets

Teaching methods

Ex cathedra lecture and exercises

Expected student activities

• Attendance at lectures
• Solve the exercises

Assessment methods

• Writen exam (3 hours)
• Dans le cas de l'art. 3 al. 5 du Règlement de section, l'enseignant décide de la forme de l'examen qu'il communique aux étudiants concernés

Supervision

Office hours	No
Assistants	Yes
Forum	Yes

Resources

Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)

No

Bibliography

1. Kenneth Kunen: Set theory, Springer, 1983
2. Lorenz Halbeisen: Combinatorial Set Theory, Springer 2018
3. Thomas Jech: Set theory, Springer 2006
4. Jean-Louis Krivine: Theorie des ensembles, 2007
5. Patrick Dehornoy: Logique et théorie des ensembles; Notes de cours, FIMFA ENS: http://www.math.unicaen.fr/~dehornoy/surveys.html
6. Yiannis Moschovakis: Notes on set theory, Springer 2006
7. Karel Hrbacek and Thomas Jech: Introduction to Set theory, (3d edition), 1999

Ressources en bibliothèque

• Introduction to Set theory / Hrbacek
• Set theory / Jech
• Theorie des ensembles / Krivine
• Set theory / Kunen
• Notes on set theory / Moschovakis
• Logique et théorie des ensembles / Dehorny
• Combinatorial Set Theory / Halbeisen

Notes/Handbook

Lecture notes on Moodle (417 pages).

Moodle Link

• https://go.epfl.ch/MATH-318