In mathematics, in the framework of one-universe foundation for category theory, [1] [2] the term conglomerate is applied to arbitrary sets as a contraposition to the distinguished sets that are elements of a Grothendieck universe. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
The most popular axiomatic set theories, Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory (ZFC), von Neumann–Bernays–Gödel set theory (NBG), and Morse–Kelley set theory (MK), admit non-conservative extensions that arise after adding a supplementary axiom of existence of a Grothendieck universe . An example of such an extension is the Tarski–Grothendieck set theory, where an infinite hierarchy of Grothendieck universes is postulated.
The concept of conglomerate was created to deal with "collections" of classes, which is desirable in category theory so that each class can be considered as an element of a "more general collection", a conglomerate. Technically this is organized by changes in terminology: when a Grothendieck universe is added to the chosen axiomatic set theory (ZFC/NBG/MK) it is considered convenient [9] [10]
As a result, in this terminology, each set is a class, and each class is a conglomerate.
Formally this construction describes a model of the initial axiomatic set theory (ZFC/NBG/MK) in the extension of this theory ("ZFC/NBG/MK+Grothendieck universe") with as the universe. [1] : 195 [2] : 23
If the initial axiomatic set theory admits the idea of proper class (i.e. an object that can't be an element of any other object, like the class of all sets in NBG and in MK), then these objects (proper classes) are discarded from the consideration in the new theory ("NBG/MK+Grothendieck universe"). However, (not counting the possible problems caused by the supplementary axiom of existence of ) this in some sense does not lead to a loss of information about objects of the old theory (NBG or MK) since its representation as a model in the new theory ("NBG/MK+Grothendieck universe") means that what can be proved in NBG/MK about its usual objects called classes (including proper classes) can be proved as well in "NBG/MK+Grothendieck universe" about its classes (i.e. about subsets of , including subsets that are not elements of , which are analogs of proper classes from NBG/MK). At the same time, the new theory is not equivalent to the initial one, since some extra propositions about classes can be proved in "NBG/MK+Grothendieck universe" but not in NBG/MK.
The change in terminology is sometimes called "conglomerate convention". [7] : 6 The first step, made by Mac Lane, [1] : 195 [2] : 23 is to apply the term "class" only to subsets of Mac Lane does not redefine existing set-theoretic terms; rather, he works in a set theory without classes (ZFC, not NBG/MK), calls members of "small sets", and states that the small sets and the classes satisfy the axioms of NBG. He does not need "conglomerates", since sets need not be small.
The term "conglomerate" lurks in reviews of the 1970s and 1980s on Mathematical Reviews [11] without definition, explanation or reference, and sometimes in papers. [12]
While the conglomerate convention is in force, it must be used exclusively in order to avoid ambiguity; that is, conglomerates should not be called “sets” in the usual fashion of ZFC. [7] : 6
In mathematics, the axiom of choice, abbreviated AC or AoC, is an axiom of set theory equivalent to the statement that a Cartesian product of a collection of non-empty sets is non-empty. Informally put, the axiom of choice says that given any collection of sets, each containing at least one element, it is possible to construct a new set by choosing one element from each set, even if the collection is infinite. Formally, it states that for every indexed family of nonempty sets, there exists an indexed set such that for every . The axiom of choice was formulated in 1904 by Ernst Zermelo in order to formalize his proof of the well-ordering theorem.
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Internal set theory (IST) is a mathematical theory of sets developed by Edward Nelson that provides an axiomatic basis for a portion of the nonstandard analysis introduced by Abraham Robinson. Instead of adding new elements to the real numbers, Nelson's approach modifies the axiomatic foundations through syntactic enrichment. Thus, the axioms introduce a new term, "standard", which can be used to make discriminations not possible under the conventional ZFC axioms for sets. Thus, IST is an enrichment of ZFC: all axioms of ZFC are satisfied for all classical predicates, while the new unary predicate "standard" satisfies three additional axioms I, S, and T. In particular, suitable nonstandard elements within the set of real numbers can be shown to have properties that correspond to the properties of infinitesimal and unlimited elements.
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