On first-order arithmetic truth
General Mathematics
2026-05-13 v12
Abstract
The standard interpretation of first-order number theory (PA), according to the generally accepted view, associates well-defined set-theoretic entities with each and every well-formed formula of this system. But this implies that the class of PA theorems is semantically defined by a class sign of PA itself, (E x_2) Pf(x_2, x_1), in the following sense: with b' the PA numeral for the number b, (E x_2) Pf(x_2, b') is true under the standard interpretation if and only if b is the Godel number of a PA theorem. From this however it is easily established, by a modification of Godel's proof, that the class of PA theorems, and hence the standard interpretation of PA itself, is not well defined after all.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1105.0321,
title = {On first-order arithmetic truth},
author = {Stephen Boyce},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1105.0321},
year = {2026}
}