English

Extensional Independence

Logic 2026-03-08 v3

Abstract

Joel Hamkins asks whether there is a Π10\Pi^0_1-formula ρ(x)\rho(x) such that ρ(ϕ)\rho(\phi) is independent over PA+ϕ{\sf PA}+\phi, if this theory is consistent, where this construction is extensional in ϕ\phi with respect to PA{\sf PA}-provable equivalence. We show that there can be no such extensional Rosser formula of any complexity. We give a positive answer to Hamkins' question for the case where we replace Extensionality by a weaker demand *Consistent Extensionality*. We also prove that we can demand the negation of ρ\rho to be Π10\Pi^0_1-conservative, if we ask for the still weaker *Conditional Extensionality*. We show that an intensional version of the result for Conditional Extensionality cannot work.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2506.13524,
  title  = {Extensional Independence},
  author = {Taishi Kurahashi and Albert Visser},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2506.13524},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

This preprint extends and supersedes the earlier preprint [arXiv:2502.09109] *On a Question of Hamkins'* by Albert Visser

R2 v1 2026-07-01T03:19:46.723Z