axioms of set t heor y

2 axioms of set t heor y

2.1 The -relation
Set theor y is built on thepostulatethat thereis afundamental relation (i.e. apredicate
of two variables) denoted and read as epsilon. T here will be no def nition of what
is, or of what a set is. I nstead, we will have nine axioms concer ning and sets, and
it is only in ter ms of these nine axioms that and sets are def ned at all. H ere is an
over view of the axioms. We will have:
basic existence axioms, one about the relation and the other about the existence of the empty set;

construction axioms, which establish rules for building new sets from given
ones. T hey are the pair set axiom, the union set axiom, the replacement axiom
and the power set axiom;

further existence/ construction axioms, these are slightly more advanced and
newer compared to the others;
axiom of foundation, excluding some constructions as not being sets.

U sing the -relation we can immediately def ne the following relations:

x y
/ : (x y)
x y : a : (a x a y)
x = y : (x y) (y x)

Remark . . A comment about notation. Since is a predicate of two variables, for

consistency of notation we should write (x, y). H owever, the notation x y is much
more common (as well as intuitive) and hence we simply def ne:
x y : (x, y)
and weread x is in (or belongs to) y or x is an element (or amember) of y. Similar
remarks apply to the other relations
/ , and =.
2.2 Zermelo-Fraenkel axioms of set theory
Axiom on the -relation. T heexpression x y is aproposition if, andonly if, both x andy
aresets. I n symbols:
x : y : (x y) Y (x y).

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