Related papers: On the consistency of ZF with an elementary embedd…
We introduce 0^h (0^handgrenade) as a sharp for an inner model with a proper class of strong cardinals. If 0^h does not exist then any normal iteration tree is "almost linear." We exploit this fact to prove the existence of the core model K…
Gregory McColm conjectured that positive elementary inductions are bounded in a class K of finite structures if every (FO + LFP) formula is equivalent to a first-order formula in K. Here (FO + LFP) is the extension of first-order logic with…
Our theme is that not every interesting question in set theory is independent of $ZFC$. We give an example of a first order theory $T$ with countable $D(T)$ which cannot have a universal model at $\aleph_1$ without CH; we prove in $ZFC$ a…
We investigate, in ZFC, the behavior of abstract elementary classes (AECs) categorical in many successive small cardinals. We prove for example that a universal $\mathbb{L}_{\omega_1, \omega}$ sentence categorical on an end segment of…
Given a cardinal $\lambda$, category forcing axioms for $\lambda$-suitable classes $\Gamma$ are strong forcing axioms which completely decide the theory of the Chang model $\mathcal C_\lambda$, modulo generic extensions via forcing notions…
We prove that the class of all ordinals Ord is not weakly compact with respect to definable classes. Specifically, in any model of ZFC, the definable tree property fails for Ord, in that there is a definable Ord tree with no definable…
We show relative to strong hypotheses that patterns of compact cardinals in the universe, where a compact cardinal is one which is either strongly compact or supercompact, can be virtually arbitrary. Specifically, we prove if V is a model…
We prove that if there is an elementary embedding from the universe to itself, then there is a proper class of measurable successor cardinals.
Fairly deep results of Zermelo-Frenkel (ZF) set theory have been mechanized using the proof assistant Isabelle. The results concern cardinal arithmetic and the Axiom of Choice (AC). A key result about cardinal multiplication is K*K = K,…
In this note we show through infinitary derivations that each provably well-founded strict partial order in ${\rm ACA}_{0}$ admits an embedding to an ordinal$<\varepsilon_{0}$.
Given two elementary embeddings from the collection of sets of rank less than $\lambda$ to itself, one can combine them to obtain another such embedding in two ways: by composition, and by applying one to (initial segments of) the other.…
We prove that the theory of the models constructible using finitely many cofinality quantifiers - $C_{\lambda_{1},...,\lambda_{n}}^{*}$ and $C_{<\lambda_{1},...,<\lambda_{n}}^{*}$ for $\lambda_{1},...,\lambda_{n}$ regular cardinals - is…
Under large cardinal hypotheses beyond the Kunen inconsistency -- hypotheses so strong as to contradict the Axiom of Choice -- we solve several variants of the generalized continuum problem and identify structural features of the levels…
We prove: Main Theorem: Let $\mathcal{K}$ be an abstract elementary class satisfying the joint embedding and the amalgamation properties with no maximal models of cardinality $\mu$. Let $\mu$ be a cardinal above the the L\"owenheim-Skolem…
This paper is concerned with a class K of models and an abstract notion of submodel <=. Experience in first order model theory has shown the desirability of finding a `monster model' to serve as a universal domain for K. In the original…
Assuming some large cardinals, a model of ZFC is obtained in which aleph_{omega+1} carries no Aronszajn trees. It is also shown that if lambda is a singular limit of strongly compact cardinals, then lambda^+ carries no Aronszajn trees.
We continue [Sh:b, Ch XIII] and [Sh:410]. Let W be an inner model of ZFC. Let kappa be a cardinal in V. We say that kappa-covering holds between V and W iff for all X in V with X subseteq ON and V models |X|< kappa, there exists Y in W such…
Given a cardinal $\kappa$ that is $\lambda$-supercompact for some regular cardinal $\lambda\geq\kappa$ and assuming $\GCH$, we show that one can force the continuum function to agree with any function $F:[\kappa,\lambda]\cap\REG\to\CARD$…
In other work we have outlined how, building on ideas of Welch and Roberts, one can motivate believing in the existence of supercompact cardinals. After making this observation we strove to formulate a justification for large-cardinal…
A long-standing conjecture of Sacks states that it is provable in ZFC that every locally countable partial order of size continuum embeds into the Turing degrees. We show that this holds for partial orders of height two, but provide…