Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2006 / iii / Paper 25 / 8 / Solution

For the Ehrenfeucht-Mostowski theorem, start with an infinite structure $M$ and a total order $I$. Choose a Skolem expansion $M^{\ast }$, and adjoin constants $c_i$ for $i\in I$. Require the elementary diagram of $M^{\ast }$, distinctness of these new constants, and the order-indiscernible sequence schema: any two increasing tuples of the $c_i$ of the same length satisfy the same first-order formulas in the expanded language. Every finite fragment mentions finitely many new constants and finitely many first-order formulas. Enumerate a countably infinite subset of $M$. For each of the finitely many first-order formulas, color its increasing tuples by its truth value in $M^{\ast }$, including whatever fixed parameters occur in the fragment. Successive applications of the infinite Ramsey theorem leave an infinite subset homogeneous for all these colorings. Assign the finitely many new constants to distinct elements of this subset in their index order. Their finite indiscernibility requirements and the elementary diagram are then simultaneously satisfied.

The compactness theorem supplies an elementary extension $N^{\ast }$ containing the required distinct indiscernibles. Their Skolem hull is an elementary substructure: an existential first-order formula true of its elements has its chosen Skolem-function witness in the hull, so the Tarski-Vaught test applies. Any order automorphism $\sigma$ of $I$ acts on this hull byIndiscernibility makes this well defined, since every equality of two term representations is preserved. The same argument preserves every first-order formula; the inverse is given by ${\sigma }^{-1}$. Thus it is an automorphism, uniquely determined in the language of the chosen Skolem expansion by its values on the generators. This proves both the indiscernible-model and automorphism forms of the Ehrenfeucht-Mostowski theorem. Uniqueness is not claimed for automorphisms of the reduct which need not preserve the chosen Skolem functions.

For simple typed set theory with atoms, write $S_i$ for the set predicate at sort $i$. Members have sort one lower; urelements have no typed members, extensionality applies to sets, and every well-typed first-order formula defines a set at the next sort. Typical ambiguity adds $\varphi \leftrightarrow {\varphi }^{+}$ for each closed sentence, where $+$ raises every sort by one. We prove finite satisfiability using Ramsey theorem, rather than assuming that adjacent sorts have the same cardinality.

Let $X_n=V_{\omega +2n}$. If $n<m$, then $\mathcal{P}(X_n)\subseteq X_m$. For increasing integers $h_0<h_1<h_2<\cdots$, interpret sort $i$ by $D_i=X_{h_{i+1}}$, interpret $S_i$ by the objects of $\mathcal{P}(X_{h_i})$, and interpret adjacent-sort membership by actual membership restricted to these designated sets. All other objects of a sort are typed urelements. Every subset of $D_i$ is a designated set in $D_{i+1}$, so comprehension holds for every first-order formula, including first-order formulas with quantifiers and parameters at other sorts. Two designated sets with the same members are equal, while the other objects have no typed members. Thus this is a full model of the typed axioms for every increasing sequence of levels. The extra preceding level $h_0$ gives a consistent interpretation of the bottom set predicate as well.

Take finitely many ambiguity sentences and let $r$ bound their highest sort before raising. Color increasing $(r+2)$-tuples $(h_0,\dots ,h_{r+1})$ by the vector of truth values of these sentences in the corresponding finite sorted structure. There are finitely many colors. The infinite Ramsey theorem supplies an homogeneous set of indices. Choose the level sequence from it. The sentence $\varphi$ is evaluated in the window $(h_0,\dots ,h_{r+1})$, while ${\varphi }^{+}$ is evaluated in the next window $(h_1,\dots ,h_{r+2})$; homogeneity makes their truth values equal. Sentences using fewer sorts simply ignore the unused final levels. Thus every finite family of ambiguity axioms has a model satisfying all the typed axioms. Apply many-sorted first-order compactness theorem to obtainThis is a relative consistency construction in the ordinary set-theoretic metatheory. Allowing urelements is essential here: skipping ranks leaves objects outside the represented power sets, and those objects must be permitted as urelements.