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Questions tagged [axiom-of-choice]

An important and fundamental axiom in set theory sometimes called Zermelo's axiom of choice. It was formulated by Zermelo in 1904 and states that, given any set of mutually disjoint nonempty sets, there exists at least one set that contains exactly one element in common with each of the nonempty sets. The axiom of choice is related to the first of Hilbert's problems.

-6 votes
1 answer
124 views

Actual infinitesimals for solving Vitali paradox

Has anyone tried to use actual infinitesimals to solve paradoxes about non-measurability? In Vitali paradox, for example, they divide a set with measure 1 into $\infty$ subsets of zero measure and ...
24 votes
2 answers
3k views

Does the "three-set-lemma" imply the Axiom of Choice?

Consider the following curious statement: $(S)$ $\;$ Let $X$ be a non-empty set and let $f:X \to X$ be fixpoint-free (that is $f(x) \neq x$ for all $x\in X$). Then there are subsets $X_1, X_2, X_3 \...
6 votes
1 answer
321 views

Can we have this sequence where choice fails and returns?

Can we have a sequence of transitive sets $\langle\mathcal V_0, \mathcal V_1, \mathcal V_2,...\rangle$, all modeling $\sf ZF$, such that $\mathcal P(V_n) \subset \mathcal V_{n+1}$, and the cardinality ...
14 votes
2 answers
1k views

Proof/Reference to a claim about AC and definable real numbers

I’ve read somewhere on this site (I believe from a JDH comment) that an argument in favor of AC (I believe from Asaf Karagila) is that without AC, there exists a real number which is not definable ...
10 votes
1 answer
363 views

Hereditarily countable sets in Antifounded ZF

A set $x$ is hereditarily countable when every membership-descendant of $x$ (including $x$ itself) is countable. In this paper, Jech proved in ZF that the class of all hereditarily countable sets is a ...
10 votes
1 answer
613 views

Infinitary logics and the axiom of choice

Suppose we want to enhance ZF by allowing for infinitary formulas instead of just first-order ones in our axiom schema of separation and/or replacement. It seems that we don't need much power in our ...
1 vote
0 answers
85 views

Everywhere-defined unbounded operators between Banach spaces

In this post, it is said that there are no constructive examples of everywhere-defined unbounded operators between Banach spaces; every example furnished must use the axiom of choice. This seems like ...
-2 votes
1 answer
162 views

Is discriminative choice provable in ZFC?

Let $\phi$ be a formula defining an equivalence relation. Definitions: The $\phi$-cardinality of a set $X$ be the cardinality of $X/\phi$. That is, the cardinality of the set of all equivalence ...
9 votes
1 answer
295 views

Complexity of definable global choice functions

It is well-known that $L$ has a $\Sigma_{1}$-definable global choice function; it is also known that there are other transitive class models of ZFC with this property. I wonder about the complexity ...
5 votes
1 answer
238 views

Is a weak version of the three sets Lemma provable in ZF?

The Three Sets Lemma is the following Lemma: Lemma: Let $f(x)$ be a function from $X$ to $X$ where $f(x)$ has no fixed points. Then there exists a partition of $X$ into three disjoint sets $X_1$, $X_2$...
10 votes
1 answer
488 views

Must strange sequences wear Russellian socks?

This is an attempt to make more precise a vague guess at the end of this answer of mine. We work in $\mathsf{ZF}$ throughout. Say that a sequence $\mathcal{A}=(A_i)_{i\in\omega}$ of disjoint sets is ...
6 votes
2 answers
458 views

Does Well-Ordered Interval Power Set "WOIPS" principle , prove $\sf AC$ in $\sf ZFA$?

Does $\sf ZFA + WOIPS$ prove $\sf AC$? Where $\sf WOIPS$ is phrased as: for every infinite set $X$ the set of intervening cardinals between $|X|$ and $|\mathcal P(X)|$ is well-ordered. In $\sf ZF$, I ...
8 votes
2 answers
554 views

Darboux property of non-atomic sigma-additive nonnegative measures equivalent to the AC?

A result commonly, and probably erroneously, attributed to W. Sierpiński is that every non-atomic, countably additive, nonnegative measure $\mu: \Sigma \to \bf R$, where $\Sigma$ is a sigma-algebra on ...
3 votes
1 answer
149 views

Turning linear ordering into well-ordering

Work in ZF + DC. Assume that there is an uncountable $A \subseteq \mathbb{R}$ and a linear order $\prec$ on $A$ such that for every $x \in A$, $\{y \in A: y \prec x\}$ is countable. Must there exist ...
5 votes
1 answer
149 views

The equivalence of Dedekind-infinite and dually Dedekind-infinite as a weak form of (AC)

A set $X$ is Dedekind-infinite if there is an injective map $f: X\to X$ that is not surjective. A set $X$ is dually Dedekind-infinite if there is a surjective map $f: X\to X$ that is not injective. In ...

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