English

Partition Principle without Choice via Symmetric Iterations and Sheaf-Toposes

Logic 2026-01-26 v5 Category Theory

Abstract

We study the topos E=Sh(H2N)\mathcal{E}=\mathsf{Sh}(H\ltimes 2^{\mathbb{N}}) arising from a nontrivial finite group HH acting freely on Cantor space. Using a local embedding property for the relevant epimorphisms together with effective descent for monomorphisms, we show that the \emph{internal} set universe VV obtained from algebraic set theory (AST) inside E\mathcal{E} satisfies the Partition Principle. On the other hand, the quotient q:XX/Hq:X\to X/H is a small epimorphism in E\mathcal{E} with no section, and this yields (via the display interpretation) an internal surjection in VV with no internal section; hence V¬ACV\models\neg\mathsf{AC}. In summary, E\mathcal{E} contains an internal model of IZF+PP+¬AC\mathsf{IZF}+\mathsf{PP}+\neg\mathsf{AC} (and if E\mathcal{E} is Boolean, equivalently after ¬¬\neg\neg-sheafification, this upgrades to ZF+PP+¬AC\mathsf{ZF}+\mathsf{PP}+\neg\mathsf{AC}).

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2511.07675,
  title  = {Partition Principle without Choice via Symmetric Iterations and Sheaf-Toposes},
  author = {Frank Gilson},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2511.07675},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

The structural methods used in the noted Topos result in a set-theoretic infinite Dedekind-finite set, resulting in the opposite goal of the paper, the negation of the Partition Principle