Axiom ax-sep 5256

Description: Axiom scheme of separation. This is an axiom scheme of Zermelo and Zermelo-Fraenkel set theories.

It was derived as axsep 5255 above and is therefore redundant in ZF set theory, which contains ax-rep 5237 as an axiom (contrary to Zermelo set theory). We state it as a separate axiom here so that some of its uses can be identified more easily. Some textbooks present the axiom scheme of separation as a separate axiom scheme in order to show that much of set theory can be derived without the stronger axiom scheme of replacement (which is not part of Zermelo set theory).

The axiom scheme of separation is a weak form of Frege's axiom scheme of (unrestricted) comprehension, in that it conditions it with the condition 𝑥 ∈ 𝑧, so that it asserts the existence of a collection only if it is smaller than some other collection 𝑧 that already exists. This prevents Russell's paradox ru 3742. In some texts, this scheme is called "Aussonderung" (German for "separation") or "Subset Axiom".

The variable 𝑥 can occur in the formula 𝜑, which in textbooks is often written 𝜑(𝑥). To specify this in the Metamath language, we omit the distinct variable condition ($d) that 𝑥 not occur in 𝜑.

For a version using a class variable, see sepg 5258, which requires the axiom of extensionality as well as the axiom scheme of separation for its derivation.

If we omit the requirement that 𝑦 not occur in 𝜑, we can derive a contradiction, as notsep 5334 shows (showing the necessity of that condition in sepgi 5259, hence in sepg 5258 and ax-sep 5256).

Scheme Sep of [BellMachover] p. 463. (Contributed by NM, 11-Sep-2006.)

Assertion

Ref	Expression
ax-sep	⊢ ∃𝑦∀𝑥(𝑥 ∈ 𝑦 ↔ (𝑥 ∈ 𝑧 ∧ 𝜑))

Distinct variable groups:   𝑥,𝑦,𝑧   𝜑,𝑦,𝑧

Allowed substitution hint:   𝜑(𝑥)

Detailed syntax breakdown of Axiom ax-sep

Step	Hyp	Ref	Expression
1		vx	. . . . 5 setvar 𝑥
2		vy	. . . . 5 setvar 𝑦
3	1, 2	wel 2142	. . . 4 wff 𝑥 ∈ 𝑦
4		vz	. . . . . 6 setvar 𝑧
5	1, 4	wel 2142	. . . . 5 wff 𝑥 ∈ 𝑧
6		wph	. . . . 5 wff 𝜑
7	5, 6	wa 400	. . . 4 wff (𝑥 ∈ 𝑧 ∧ 𝜑)
8	3, 7	wb 209	. . 3 wff (𝑥 ∈ 𝑦 ↔ (𝑥 ∈ 𝑧 ∧ 𝜑))
9	8, 1	wal 1566	. 2 wff ∀𝑥(𝑥 ∈ 𝑦 ↔ (𝑥 ∈ 𝑧 ∧ 𝜑))
10	9, 2	wex 1807	1 wff ∃𝑦∀𝑥(𝑥 ∈ 𝑦 ↔ (𝑥 ∈ 𝑧 ∧ 𝜑))

This axiom is referenced by:  axsepg  5257  sepg  5258  zfausclOLD  5260  sepexlem  5261  bm1.3iiOLD  5264  ax6vsep  5265  axnul  5267  exnelv  5275  nalsetOLD  5277  axsepg2  35507  axsepg3  35508  axsepg3ALT  35509  bj-sepg  37503  bj-bm1.3ii  37644  ssclaxsep  45639