Constructible universe

In mathematics, in set theory, the constructible universe (or Gödel's constructible universe), denoted by L, is a particular class of sets that can be described entirely in terms of simpler sets. L is the union of the constructible hierarchy L_α . It was introduced by Kurt Gödel in his 1938 paper "The Consistency of the Axiom of Choice and of the Generalized Continuum-Hypothesis".^[1] In this, he proved that the constructible universe is an inner model of ZF set theory (that is, of Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory with the axiom of choice excluded), and also that the axiom of choice and the generalized continuum hypothesis are true in the constructible universe. This shows that both propositions are consistent with the basic axioms of set theory, if ZF itself is consistent. Since many other theorems only hold in systems in which one or both of the propositions is true, their consistency is an important result.

What `L` is[]

L can be thought of as being built in "stages" resembling the construction of von Neumann universe, V. The stages are indexed by ordinals. In von Neumann's universe, at a successor stage, one takes V_α+1 to be the set of all subsets of the previous stage, V_α. By contrast, in Gödel's constructible universe L, one uses only those subsets of the previous stage that are:

definable by a formula in the formal language of set theory,
with parameters from the previous stage and,
with the quantifiers interpreted to range over the previous stage.

By limiting oneself to sets defined only in terms of what has already been constructed, one ensures that the resulting sets will be constructed in a way that is independent of the peculiarities of the surrounding model of set theory and contained in any such model.

Define

\operatorname {Def} (X):={\Bigl \{}\{y\mid y\in X{\text{ and }}(X,\in )\models \Phi (y,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})\}~{\Big |}~\Phi {\text{ is a first-order formula and }}z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n}\in X{\Bigr \}}.

L is defined by transfinite recursion as follows:

$L_{0}:=\varnothing .$
$L_{\alpha +1}:=\operatorname {Def} (L_{\alpha }).$
If $\lambda$ is a limit ordinal, then $L_{\lambda }:=\bigcup _{\alpha <\lambda }L_{\alpha }.$ Here α<λ means α precedes λ.
$L:=\bigcup _{\alpha \in \mathbf {Ord} }L_{\alpha }.$ Here Ord denotes the class of all ordinals.

If z is an element of L_α, then z = {y | y ∈ L_α and y ∈ z} ∈ Def (L_α) = L_α+1. So L_α is a subset of L_α+1, which is a subset of the power set of L_α. Consequently, this is a tower of nested transitive sets. But L itself is a proper class.

The elements of L are called "constructible" sets; and L itself is the "constructible universe". The "axiom of constructibility", aka "V = L", says that every set (of V) is constructible, i.e. in L.

Additional facts about the sets `L`_α[]

An equivalent definition for L_α is:

For any ordinal α,

L_{\alpha }=\bigcup _{\beta <\alpha }\operatorname {Def} (L_{\beta })\!

.

For any finite ordinal n, the sets L_n and V_n are the same (whether V equals L or not), and thus L_ω = V_ω: their elements are exactly the hereditarily finite sets. Equality beyond this point does not hold. Even in models of ZFC in which V equals L, L_ω+1 is a proper subset of V_ω+1, and thereafter L_α+1 is a proper subset of the power set of L_α for all α > ω. On the other hand, V = L does imply that V_α equals L_α if α = ω_α, for example if α is inaccessible. More generally, V = L implies H_α = L_α for all infinite cardinals α.

If α is an infinite ordinal then there is a bijection between L_α and α, and the bijection is constructible. So these sets are equinumerous in any model of set theory that includes them.

As defined above, Def(X) is the set of subsets of X defined by Δ₀ formulas (with respect to the Levy hierarchy, i.e., formulas of set theory containing only bounded quantifiers) that use as parameters only X and its elements.^[2]

Another definition, due to Gödel, characterizes each L_α+1 as the intersection of the power set of L_α with the closure of $L_{\alpha }\cup \{L_{\alpha }\}$ under a collection of nine explicit functions, similar to Gödel operations. This definition makes no reference to definability.

All arithmetical subsets of ω and relations on ω belong to L_ω+1 (because the arithmetic definition gives one in L_ω+1). Conversely, any subset of ω belonging to L_ω+1 is arithmetical (because elements of L_ω can be coded by natural numbers in such a way that ∈ is definable, i.e., arithmetic). On the other hand, L_ω+2 already contains certain non-arithmetical subsets of ω, such as the set of (natural numbers coding) true arithmetical statements (this can be defined from L_ω+1 so it is in L_ω+2).

All hyperarithmetical subsets of ω and relations on ω belong to $L_{\omega _{1}^{\mathrm {CK} }}$ (where $\omega _{1}^{\mathrm {CK} }$ stands for the Church–Kleene ordinal), and conversely any subset of ω that belongs to $L_{\omega _{1}^{\mathrm {CK} }}$ is hyperarithmetical.^[3]

`L` is a standard inner model of ZFC[]

L is a standard model, i.e. it is a transitive class and it uses the real element relationship, so it is well-founded. L is an inner model, i.e. it contains all the ordinal numbers of V and it has no "extra" sets beyond those in V, but it might be a proper subclass of V. L is a model of ZFC, which means that it satisfies the following axioms:

Axiom of regularity: Every non-empty set x contains some element y such that x and y are disjoint sets.

(L,∈) is a substructure of (V,∈), which is well founded, so L is well founded. In particular, if y ∈ x ∈ L, then by the transitivity of L, y ∈ L. If we use this same y as in V, then it is still disjoint from x because we are using the same element relation and no new sets were added.

Axiom of extensionality: Two sets are the same if they have the same elements.

If x and y are in L and they have the same elements in L, then by L's transitivity, they have the same elements (in V). So they are equal (in V and thus in L).

Axiom of empty set: {} is a set.

{} = L₀ = {y | y∈L₀ and y=y} ∈ L₁. So {} ∈ L. Since the element relation is the same and no new elements were added, this is the empty set of L.

Axiom of pairing: If x, y are sets, then {x,y} is a set.

If x ∈ L and y ∈ L, then there is some ordinal α such that x ∈ L_α and y∈L_α. Then {x,y} = {s | s ∈ L_α and (s = x or s = y)} ∈ L_α+1. Thus {x,y} ∈ L and it has the same meaning for L as for V.

Axiom of union: For any set x there is a set y whose elements are precisely the elements of the elements of x.

If x ∈ L_α, then its elements are in L_α and their elements are also in L_α. So y is a subset of L_α. y = {s | s ∈ L_α and there exists z ∈ x such that s ∈ z} ∈ L_α+1. Thus y ∈ L.

Axiom of infinity: There exists a set x such that {} is in x and whenever y is in x, so is the union $y\cup \{y\}$ .

From transfinite induction, we get that each ordinal α ∈ L_α+1. In particular, ω ∈ L_ω+1 and thus ω ∈ L.

Axiom of separation: Given any set S and any proposition P(x,z₁,...,z_n), {x | x ∈ S and P(x,z₁,...,z_n)} is a set.

By induction on subformulas of P, one can show that there is an α such that L_α contains S and z₁,...,z_n and (P is true in L_α if and only if P is true in L (this is called the "reflection principle")). So {x | x ∈ S and P(x,z₁,...,z_n) holds in L} = {x | x ∈ L_α and x ∈ S and P(x,z₁,...,z_n) holds in L_α} ∈ L_α+1. Thus the subset is in L.

Axiom of replacement: Given any set S and any mapping (formally defined as a proposition P(x,y) where P(x,y) and P(x,z) implies y = z), {y | there exists x ∈ S such that P(x,y)} is a set.

Let Q(x,y) be the formula that relativizes P to L, i.e. all quantifiers in P are restricted to L. Q is a much more complex formula than P, but it is still a finite formula, and since P was a mapping over L, Q must be a mapping over V; thus we can apply replacement in V to Q. So {y | y ∈ L and there exists x ∈ S such that P(x,y) holds in L} = {y | there exists x ∈ S such that Q(x,y)} is a set in V and a subclass of L. Again using the axiom of replacement in V, we can show that there must be an α such that this set is a subset of L_α ∈ L_α+1. Then one can use the axiom of separation in L to finish showing that it is an element of L.

Axiom of power set: For any set x there exists a set y, such that the elements of y are precisely the subsets of x.

In general, some subsets of a set in L will not be in L. So the whole power set of a set in L will usually not be in L. What we need here is to show that the intersection of the power set with L is in L. Use replacement in V to show that there is an α such that the intersection is a subset of L_α. Then the intersection is {z | z ∈ L_α and z is a subset of x} ∈ L_α+1. Thus the required set is in L.

Axiom of choice: Given a set x of mutually disjoint nonempty sets, there is a set y (a choice set for x) containing exactly one element from each member of x.

One can show that there is a definable well-ordering of L which definition works the same way in L itself. So one chooses the least element of each member of x to form y using the axioms of union and separation in L.

Notice that the proof that L is a model of ZFC only requires that V be a model of ZF, i.e. we do not assume that the axiom of choice holds in V.

$L$ is absolute and minimal[]

If $W$ is any standard model of ZF sharing the same ordinals as $V$ , then the $L$ defined in $W$ is the same as the $L$ defined in $V$ . In particular, $L α$ is the same in $W$ and $V$ , for any ordinal $α$ . And the same formulas and parameters in $Def (L α)$ produce the same constructible sets in $L$ _{$α$ +1}.

Furthermore, since $L$ is a subclass of $V$ and, similarly, $L$ is a subclass of $W$ , $L$ is the smallest class containing all the ordinals that is a standard model of ZF. Indeed, $L$ is the intersection of all such classes.

If there is a set $W$ in $V$ that is a standard model of ZF, and the ordinal $κ$ is the set of ordinals that occur in $W$ , then $L κ$ is the $L$ of $W$ . If there is a set that is a standard model of ZF, then the smallest such set is such a $L κ$ . This set is called the minimal model of ZFC. Using the downward Löwenheim–Skolem theorem, one can show that the minimal model (if it exists) is a countable set.

Of course, any consistent theory must have a model, so even within the minimal model of set theory there are sets that are models of ZF (assuming ZF is consistent). However, those set models are non-standard. In particular, they do not use the normal element relation and they are not well founded.

Because both the $L$ of $L$ and the $V$ of $L$ are the real $L$ and both the $L$ of $L κ$ and the $V$ of $L κ$ are the real $L κ$ , we get that $V = L$ is true in $L$ and in any $L κ$ that is a model of ZF. However, $V = L$ does not hold in any other standard model of ZF.

$L$ and large cardinals[]

Since $Ord \subset L \subseteq V$ , properties of ordinals that depend on the absence of a function or other structure (i.e. Π₁^ZF formulas) are preserved when going down from $V$ to $L$ . Hence initial ordinals of cardinals remain initial in $L$ . Regular ordinals remain regular in $L$ . Weak limit cardinals become strong limit cardinals in $L$ because the generalized continuum hypothesis holds in $L$ . Weakly inaccessible cardinals become strongly inaccessible. Weakly Mahlo cardinals become strongly Mahlo. And more generally, any large cardinal property weaker than 0^# (see the list of large cardinal properties) will be retained in $L$ .

However, 0^# is false in $L$ even if true in $V$ . So all the large cardinals whose existence implies 0^# cease to have those large cardinal properties, but retain the properties weaker than 0 $#$ which they also possess. For example, measurable cardinals cease to be measurable but remain Mahlo in $L$ .

If 0^# holds in $V$ , then there is a closed unbounded class of ordinals that are indiscernible in $L$ . While some of these are not even initial ordinals in $V$ , they have all the large cardinal properties weaker than 0^# in $L$ . Furthermore, any strictly increasing class function from the class of indiscernibles to itself can be extended in a unique way to an elementary embedding of $L$ into $L$ . This gives $L$ a nice structure of repeating segments.

$L$ can be well-ordered[]

There are various ways of well-ordering $L$ . Some of these involve the "fine structure" of $L$ , which was first described by Ronald Bjorn Jensen in his 1972 paper entitled "The fine structure of the constructible hierarchy". Instead of explaining the fine structure, we will give an outline of how $L$ could be well-ordered using only the definition given above.

Suppose $x$ and $y$ are two different sets in $L$ and we wish to determine whether $x < y$ or $x > y$ . If $x$ first appears in $L α +1$ and $y$ first appears in $L β +1$ and $β$ is different from $α$ , then let $x < y$ if and only if $α < β$ . Henceforth, we suppose that $β = α$ .

The stage $L α +1 = Def (L α)$ uses formulas with parameters from $L α$ to define the sets $x$ and $y$ . If one discounts (for the moment) the parameters, the formulas can be given a standard Gödel numbering by the natural numbers. If $Φ$ is the formula with the smallest Gödel number that can be used to define $x$ , and $Ψ$ is the formula with the smallest Gödel number that can be used to define $y$ , and $Ψ$ is different from $Φ$ , then let $x < y$ if and only if $Φ < Ψ$ in the Gödel numbering. Henceforth, we suppose that $Ψ = Φ$ .

Suppose that $Φ$ uses $n$ parameters from $L α$ . Suppose $z 1,..., z n$ is the sequence of parameters that can be used with $Φ$ to define $x$ , and $w 1,..., w n$ does the same for $y$ . Then let $x < y$ if and only if either $z n < w n$ or ( $z n = w n$ and $z_{n-1}<w_{n-1}$ ) or ( $z n = w n$ and $z_{n-1}=w_{n-1}$ and $z_{n-2}<w_{n-2}$ ) etc. This is called the reverse lexicographic ordering; if there are multiple sequences of parameters that define one of the sets, we choose the least one under this ordering. It being understood that each parameter's possible values are ordered according to the restriction of the ordering of $L$ to $L α$ , so this definition involves transfinite recursion on $α$ .

The well-ordering of the values of single parameters is provided by the inductive hypothesis of the transfinite induction. The values of $n$ -tuples of parameters are well-ordered by the product ordering. The formulas with parameters are well-ordered by the ordered sum (by Gödel numbers) of well-orderings. And $L$ is well-ordered by the ordered sum (indexed by $α$ ) of the orderings on $L α +1$ .

Notice that this well-ordering can be defined within $L$ itself by a formula of set theory with no parameters, only the free-variables $x$ and $y$ . And this formula gives the same truth value regardless of whether it is evaluated in $L$ , $V$ , or $W$ (some other standard model of ZF with the same ordinals) and we will suppose that the formula is false if either $x$ or $y$ is not in $L$ .

It is well known that the axiom of choice is equivalent to the ability to well-order every set. Being able to well-order the proper class $V$ (as we have done here with $L$ ) is equivalent to the axiom of global choice, which is more powerful than the ordinary axiom of choice because it also covers proper classes of non-empty sets.

`L` has a reflection principle[]

Proving that the axiom of separation, axiom of replacement, and axiom of choice hold in L requires (at least as shown above) the use of a reflection principle for L. Here we describe such a principle.

By induction on n < ω, we can use ZF in V to prove that for any ordinal α, there is an ordinal β > α such that for any sentence P(z₁,...,z_k) with z₁,...,z_k in L_β and containing fewer than n symbols (counting a constant symbol for an element of L_β as one symbol) we get that P(z₁,...,z_k) holds in L_β if and only if it holds in L.

The generalized continuum hypothesis holds in `L`[]

Let $S\in L_{\alpha }$ , and let T be any constructible subset of S. Then there is some β with $T\in L_{\beta +1}$ , so $T=\{x\in L_{\beta }:x\in S\wedge \Phi (x,z_{i})\}=\{x\in S:\Phi (x,z_{i})\}$ , for some formula Φ and some $z_{i}$ drawn from $L_{\beta }$ . By the downward Löwenheim–Skolem theorem and Mostowski collapse, there must be some transitive set K containing $L_{\alpha }$ and some $w_{i}$ , and having the same first-order theory as $L_{\beta }$ with the $w_{i}$ substituted for the $z_{i}$ ; and this K will have the same cardinal as $L_{\alpha }$ . Since $V=L$ is true in $L_{\beta }$ , it is also true in K, so $K=L_{\gamma }$ for some γ having the same cardinal as α. And $T=\{x\in L_{\beta }:x\in S\wedge \Phi (x,z_{i})\}=\{x\in L_{\gamma }:x\in S\wedge \Phi (x,w_{i})\}$ because $L_{\beta }$ and $L_{\gamma }$ have the same theory. So T is in fact in $L_{\gamma +1}$ .

So all the constructible subsets of an infinite set S have ranks with (at most) the same cardinal κ as the rank of S; it follows that if δ is the initial ordinal for κ⁺, then $L\cap {\mathcal {P}}(S)\subseteq L_{\delta }$ serves as the "power set" of S within L. Thus this "power set" $L\cap {\mathcal {P}}(S)\in L_{\delta +1}$ . And this in turn means that the "power set" of S has cardinal at most ||δ||. Assuming S itself has cardinal κ, the "power set" must then have cardinal exactly κ⁺. But this is precisely the generalized continuum hypothesis relativized to L.

Constructible sets are definable from the ordinals[]

There is a formula of set theory that expresses the idea that X = L_α. It has only free variables for X and α. Using this we can expand the definition of each constructible set. If s ∈ L_α+1, then s = {y | y ∈ L_α and Φ(y,z₁,...,z_n) holds in (L_α,∈)} for some formula Φ and some z₁,...,z_n in L_α. This is equivalent to saying that: for all y, y ∈ s if and only if [there exists X such that X =L_α and y ∈ X and Ψ(X,y,z₁,...,z_n)] where Ψ(X,...) is the result of restricting each quantifier in Φ(...) to X. Notice that each z_k ∈ L_β+1 for some β < α. Combine formulas for the z's with the formula for s and apply existential quantifiers over the z's outside and one gets a formula that defines the constructible set s using only the ordinals α that appear in expressions like X = L_α as parameters.

Example: The set {5,ω} is constructible. It is the unique set s that satisfies the formula:

\forall y(y\in s\iff (y\in L_{\omega +1}\land (\forall a(a\in y\iff a\in L_{5}\land Ord(a))\lor \forall b(b\in y\iff b\in L_{\omega }\land Ord(b)))))

,

where $Ord(a)$ is short for:

\forall c\in a(\forall d\in c(d\in a\land \forall e\in d(e\in c))).

Actually, even this complex formula has been simplified from what the instructions given in the first paragraph would yield. But the point remains, there is a formula of set theory that is true only for the desired constructible set s and that contains parameters only for ordinals.

Relative constructibility[]

Sometimes it is desirable to find a model of set theory that is narrow like L, but that includes or is influenced by a set that is not constructible. This gives rise to the concept of relative constructibility, of which there are two flavors, denoted by L(A) and L[A].

The class L(A) for a non-constructible set A is the intersection of all classes that are standard models of set theory and contain A and all the ordinals.

L(A) is defined by transfinite recursion as follows:

L₀(A) = the smallest transitive set containing A as an element, i.e. the transitive closure of { A }.
L_α+1(A) = Def (L_α(A))
If λ is a limit ordinal, then $L_{\lambda }(A)=\bigcup _{\alpha <\lambda }L_{\alpha }(A)\!$ .
$L(A)=\bigcup _{\alpha }L_{\alpha }(A)\!$ .

If L(A) contains a well-ordering of the transitive closure of A, then this can be extended to a well-ordering of L(A). Otherwise, the axiom of choice will fail in L(A).

A common example is $L(\mathbb {R} )$ , the smallest model that contains all the real numbers, which is used extensively in modern descriptive set theory.

The class L[A] is the class of sets whose construction is influenced by A, where A may be a (presumably non-constructible) set or a proper class. The definition of this class uses Def_A (X), which is the same as Def (X) except instead of evaluating the truth of formulas Φ in the model (X,∈), one uses the model (X,∈,A) where A is a unary predicate. The intended interpretation of A(y) is y ∈ A. Then the definition of L[A] is exactly that of L only with Def replaced by Def_A.

L[A] is always a model of the axiom of choice. Even if A is a set, A is not necessarily itself a member of L[A], although it always is if A is a set of ordinals.

The sets in L(A) or L[A] are usually not actually constructible, and the properties of these models may be quite different from the properties of L itself.

Notes[]

^ Gödel 1938.
^ K. Devlin 1975, An Introduction to the Fine Structure of the Constructible Hierarchy (p.2). Accessed 2021-05-12.
^ Barwise 1975, page 60 (comment following proof of theorem 5.9)

References[]

Barwise, Jon (1975). Admissible Sets and Structures. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. ISBN 0-387-07451-1.
Devlin, Keith J. (1984). Constructibility. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. ISBN 0-387-13258-9.
Felgner, Ulrich (1971). Models of ZF-Set Theory. Lecture Notes in Mathematics. Springer-Verlag. ISBN 3-540-05591-6.
Gödel, Kurt (1938). "The Consistency of the Axiom of Choice and of the Generalized Continuum-Hypothesis". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. National Academy of Sciences. 24 (12): 556–557. Bibcode:1938PNAS...24..556G. doi:10.1073/pnas.24.12.556. JSTOR 87239. PMC 1077160. PMID 16577857.
Gödel, Kurt (1940). The Consistency of the Continuum Hypothesis. Annals of Mathematics Studies. Vol. 3. Princeton, N. J.: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-07927-1. MR 0002514.
Jech, Thomas (2002). Set Theory. Springer Monographs in Mathematics (3rd millennium ed.). Springer. ISBN 3-540-44085-2.

[1] Gödel 1938.

[2] K. Devlin 1975, An Introduction to the Fine Structure of the Constructible Hierarchy (p.2). Accessed 2021-05-12.

[3] Barwise 1975, page 60 (comment following proof of theorem 5.9)

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t Set theory
Overview	Set (mathematics)
Axioms	Adjunction Choice countable dependent global Constructibility (V=L) Determinacy Extensionality Infinity Limitation of size Pairing Power set Regularity Union Martin's axiom Axiom schema replacement specification
Operations	Cartesian product Complement (a.k.a set difference) De Morgan's laws Disjoint union Intersection Power set Symmetric difference Union
Concepts Methods	Cardinality Cardinal number (large) Class Constructible universe Continuum hypothesis Diagonal argument Element ordered pair tuple Family Forcing One-to-one correspondence Ordinal number Set-builder notation Transfinite induction Venn diagram
Set types	Amorphous Countable Empty Finite (hereditarily) Fuzzy Infinite (Dedekind-infinite) Recursive Singleton Subset · Superset Transitive Uncountable Universal
Theories	Alternative Axiomatic Naive Cantor's theorem Zermelo General Principia Mathematica New Foundations Zermelo–Fraenkel von Neumann–Bernays–Gödel Morse–Kelley Kripke–Platek Tarski–Grothendieck
Paradoxes Problems	Russell's paradox Suslin's problem Burali-Forti paradox
Set theorists	Abraham Fraenkel Bertrand Russell Ernst Zermelo Georg Cantor John von Neumann Kurt Gödel Paul Bernays Paul Cohen Richard Dedekind Thomas Jech Thoralf Skolem Willard Quine

Constructible universe

Contents

What `L` is[]

Additional facts about the sets `L`_α[]

`L` is a standard inner model of ZFC[]

$L$ is absolute and minimal[]

$L$ and large cardinals[]

$L$ can be well-ordered[]

`L` has a reflection principle[]

The generalized continuum hypothesis holds in `L`[]

Constructible sets are definable from the ordinals[]

Relative constructibility[]

See also[]

Notes[]

References[]

Constructible universe

What L is[]

Additional facts about the sets Lα[]

L is a standard inner model of ZFC[]

L is absolute and minimal[]

L and large cardinals[]

L can be well-ordered[]

L has a reflection principle[]

The generalized continuum hypothesis holds in L[]

Constructible sets are definable from the ordinals[]

Relative constructibility[]

See also[]

Notes[]

References[]

What `L` is[]

Additional facts about the sets `L`_α[]

`L` is a standard inner model of ZFC[]

$L$ is absolute and minimal[]

$L$ and large cardinals[]

$L$ can be well-ordered[]

`L` has a reflection principle[]

The generalized continuum hypothesis holds in `L`[]