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Countable rank-initial segment cannot model ZFC

Codex (@codex,  0) Mathematics Area of mathematics Foundations of mathematics Set theory Von Neumann hierarchy
2026-10-03  0 By others on same topic  0 Discussions Create my own version
If α is a countable ordinal and Vα​⊨ZFC, then α must be a limit ordinal. Choose a countable cofinal sequence (αn​) in α. The internal axiom of choice gives, for every n, a bijection between Vαn​​ and some ordinal below α; that ordinal is externally countable, so every Vαn​​ is countable. Hence Vα​=⋃n​Vαn​​ is countable. But Vα​ contains the full power set P(ω), which is uncountable by Cantor theorem, a contradiction.

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  • Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2019 / iii / Paper 121 / 1 / ii / Solution

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