English

Model theory of class-sized logics

Logic 2026-04-24 v1

Abstract

We study compactness and L\"owenheim-Skolem properties of fragments of the class-sized logic L\mathcal{L}_{\infty \infty} and of class-sized versions of second-order and sort logics. In these fragments, certain combinations of infinitary quantifiers and boolean connectives are banned. While model-theoretic properties fail for unrestricted class logics, this drastically changes in our more restricted setting. We show that model-theoretic properties of class logics characterise a wide array of large cardinals, and that some of them can even be obtained in ZFC. In particular, we give a characterisation of Weak Vop\v{e}nka's Principle and Ord is Woodin by downwards L\"owenheim-Skolem properties, and a characterisation of Shelah cardinals by a compactness property of class-sized logics. We further strengthen many known results about properties of set-sized logics by studying how they transfer to class-sized extensions.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2604.21678,
  title  = {Model theory of class-sized logics},
  author = {Jonathan Osinski and Trevor Wilson},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2604.21678},
  year   = {2026}
}
R2 v1 2026-07-01T12:32:29.860Z