Axioms

Below list the axioms of ZFC assuming FOL.

We start with two primitive notions, which cannot be defined. These being an object called a “set” \{\}, and a relation called “contains” \in.

Axiom of Extensionality.

If two sets have the same members, they are equal:

\forall y \forall z \left[\forall x (x \in y \iff x \in z) \implies y = z\right]

In english, this means for all sets A,B, if for all elements x in A if and only if x in B, then A = B.

We have the following definitions for additional symbols

Definition

We denote the following

  • x \not \in y if \lnot(x \in y)

  • x \subseteq y if \forall z \in x(z \in y)

  • x \subset y if (x \subseteq y) \land \lnot(x = y)

Existence Axioms

The following axioms ensure the existence of many fundamental sets.

Empty Set Axiom

There is a set with no members:

\exists y \forall x, x \not \in y

Pairing Axiom

For any two sets u and v, there is a set having as members just u and v:

\forall u \forall v \exists B \forall x (x \in B \iff x = u \lor x = v)

Union Axiom (weak form)

For any two sets a and b, there is a set having whose members are the elements of a or b (or both):

\forall a \forall b \exists B \forall x (x \in B \iff x \in a \lor x \in b)

Power Set Axiom

For any set a, there is a set whose members are exactly the subsets of a:

\forall a \exists B \forall x (x \in B \iff x \subseteq a)

Definition

Let x be the set with no members.

We denote x as \varnothing, and call it the empty set.

Number construction

Definition

Let S be a function known as the successor function, defined by

S(a) = a \cup \{a\}.

where a is a set.

Then we can construct our numbers by repeatedly applying the successor function to the empty set.

\begin{align*} 0 &= \{\} &=& \varnothing\\ 1 &= \{0\} &=& \{\varnothing\}\\ 2 &= \{0,1\} &=& \{\varnothing, \{\varnothing\}\}\\ 3 &= \{0,1,2\} &=& \{\varnothing, \{\varnothing\},\{\{\varnothing, \{\varnothing\}\}\}\} \end{align*}