Theorem hta 9966

Description: A ZFC emulation of Hilbert's transfinite axiom. The set 𝐵 has the properties of Hilbert's epsilon, except that it also depends on a well-ordering 𝑅. This theorem arose from discussions with Raph Levien on 5-Mar-2004 about translating the HOL proof language, which uses Hilbert's epsilon. See https://us.metamath.org/downloads/choice.txt (copy of obsolete link http://ghilbert.org/choice.txt) and https://us.metamath.org/downloads/megillaward2005he.pdf.

Hilbert's epsilon is described at http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/epsilon-calculus/. This theorem differs from Hilbert's transfinite axiom described on that page in that it requires 𝑅 We 𝐴 as an antecedent. Class 𝐴 collects the sets of the least rank for which 𝜑(𝑥) is true. Class 𝐵, which emulates Hilbert's epsilon, is the minimum element in a well-ordering 𝑅 on 𝐴.

If a well-ordering 𝑅 on 𝐴 can be expressed in a closed form, as might be the case if we are working with say natural numbers, we can eliminate the antecedent with modus ponens, giving us the exact equivalent of Hilbert's transfinite axiom. Otherwise, we replace 𝑅 with a dummy setvar variable, say 𝑤, and attach 𝑤 We 𝐴 as an antecedent in each step of the ZFC version of the HOL proof until the epsilon is eliminated. At that point, 𝐵 (which will have 𝑤 as a free variable) will no longer be present, and we can eliminate 𝑤 We 𝐴 by applying exlimiv 1962 and weth 10577, using scottex 9937 to establish the existence of 𝐴.

For a version of this theorem scheme using class (meta)variables instead of wff (meta)variables, see htalem 9965. (Contributed by NM, 11-Mar-2004.) (Revised by Mario Carneiro, 25-Jun-2015.) Use the Scott operation. (Revised by BTernaryTau, 22-Jul-2026.)

Hypotheses

Ref	Expression
hta.1	⊢ 𝐴 = Scott {𝑥 ∣ 𝜑}
hta.2	⊢ 𝐵 = (℩𝑦 ∈ 𝐴 ∀𝑧 ∈ 𝐴 ¬ 𝑧𝑅𝑦)

Assertion

Ref	Expression
hta	⊢ (𝑅 We 𝐴 → (𝜑 → [𝐵 / 𝑥]𝜑))

Distinct variable groups:   𝑦,𝐴,𝑧   𝑦,𝑅,𝑧

Allowed substitution hints:   𝜑(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)   𝐴(𝑥)   𝐵(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)   𝑅(𝑥)

Proof of Theorem hta

Step	Hyp	Ref	Expression
1		19.8a 2217	. . 3 ⊢ (𝜑 → ∃𝑥𝜑)
2		scott0bs 9948	. . . 4 ⊢ (∃𝑥𝜑 ↔ Scott {𝑥 ∣ 𝜑} ≠ ∅)
3		hta.1	. . . . 5 ⊢ 𝐴 = Scott {𝑥 ∣ 𝜑}
4	3	neeq1i 3019	. . . 4 ⊢ (𝐴 ≠ ∅ ↔ Scott {𝑥 ∣ 𝜑} ≠ ∅)
5	2, 4	bitr4i 281	. . 3 ⊢ (∃𝑥𝜑 ↔ 𝐴 ≠ ∅)
6	1, 5	sylib 221	. 2 ⊢ (𝜑 → 𝐴 ≠ ∅)
7		scottex 9937	. . . . 5 ⊢ Scott {𝑥 ∣ 𝜑} ∈ V
8	3, 7	eqeltri 2856	. . . 4 ⊢ 𝐴 ∈ V
9		hta.2	. . . 4 ⊢ 𝐵 = (℩𝑦 ∈ 𝐴 ∀𝑧 ∈ 𝐴 ¬ 𝑧𝑅𝑦)
10	8, 9	htalem 9965	. . 3 ⊢ ((𝑅 We 𝐴 ∧ 𝐴 ≠ ∅) → 𝐵 ∈ 𝐴)
11	10	ex 418	. 2 ⊢ (𝑅 We 𝐴 → (𝐴 ≠ ∅ → 𝐵 ∈ 𝐴))
12		scottss 9939	. . . . 5 ⊢ Scott {𝑥 ∣ 𝜑} ⊆ {𝑥 ∣ 𝜑}
13	3, 12	eqsstri 3954	. . . 4 ⊢ 𝐴 ⊆ {𝑥 ∣ 𝜑}
14	13	sseli 3904	. . 3 ⊢ (𝐵 ∈ 𝐴 → 𝐵 ∈ {𝑥 ∣ 𝜑})
15		df-sbc 3739	. . 3 ⊢ ([𝐵 / 𝑥]𝜑 ↔ 𝐵 ∈ {𝑥 ∣ 𝜑})
16	14, 15	sylibr 237	. 2 ⊢ (𝐵 ∈ 𝐴 → [𝐵 / 𝑥]𝜑)
17	6, 11, 16	syl56 37	1 ⊢ (𝑅 We 𝐴 → (𝜑 → [𝐵 / 𝑥]𝜑))

This proof depends on syntax axioms:  ¬ wn 3   → wi 4   = wceq 1569  ∃wex 1811   ∈ wcel 2144  {cab 2738   ≠ wne 2955  ∀wral 3076  Vcvv 3450  [wsbc 3738  ∅c0 4278   class class class wbr 5102   We wwe 5602  ℩crio 7377  Scott cscott 9932

This proof depends on axioms:  ax-mp 5  ax-1 6  ax-2 7  ax-3 8  ax-gen 1827  ax-4 1841  ax-5 1942  ax-6 1999  ax-7 2040  ax-8 2146  ax-9 2154  ax-10 2177  ax-11 2193  ax-12 2212  ax-ext 2732  ax-rep 5231  ax-sep 5248  ax-nul 5259  ax-pow 5326  ax-pr 5390  ax-un 7752  ax-reg 9590  ax-inf2 9646

This proof depends on definitions:  df-bi 210  df-an 402  df-or 862  df-3or 1104  df-3an 1105  df-tru 1572  df-fal 1582  df-ex 1812  df-nf 1816  df-sb 2099  df-mo 2564  df-eu 2594  df-clab 2739  df-cleq 2752  df-clel 2835  df-nfc 2909  df-ne 2956  df-ral 3077  df-rex 3087  df-rmo 3365  df-reu 3366  df-rab 3413  df-v 3452  df-sbc 3739  df-csb 3847  df-ss 3896  df-pss 4014  df-dif 4047  df-in 4091  df-un 4151  df-nul 4279  df-if 4482  df-pw 4558  df-sn 4585  df-pr 4587  df-op 4835  df-uni 4867  df-int 4907  df-iun 4952  df-iin 4953  df-br 5103  df-opab 5167  df-mpt 5186  df-tr 5212  df-id 5545  df-eprel 5550  df-po 5558  df-so 5559  df-fr 5603  df-we 5605  df-xp 5656  df-rel 5657  df-cnv 5658  df-co 5659  df-dm 5660  df-rn 5661  df-res 5662  df-ima 5663  df-pred 6304  df-ord 6365  df-on 6366  df-lim 6367  df-suc 6368  df-iota 6494  df-fun 6541  df-fn 6542  df-f 6543  df-f1 6544  df-fo 6545  df-f1o 6546  df-fv 6547  df-riota 7378  df-ov 7424  df-om 7879  df-2nd 8003  df-frecs 8303  df-wrecs 8334  df-recs 8383  df-rdg 8422  df-r1 9772  df-rank 9773  df-scott 9933

This theorem is used by: (None)