Fix an effective enumeration of the unary partial computable functions. Suppose the set
were computably enumerable, say as . Then
would be a total computable function. Hence for some , but
a contradiction. Thus the set of Gödel numbers of total computable functions is not recursively axiomatizable; this is the totality problem is not computably enumerable argument.
Let be a recursively axiomatized theory of arithmetic. For each program index , fix an arithmetical sentence
expressing that the computation with index halts on every input. Enumerate all formal -proofs and output whenever a proof ending in appears. This enumerates exactly the Gödel numbers of the computable functions that proves total, namely the provably total computable functions, so that set is recursively axiomatizable.
Assume now that is sound. Repeat every discovered index indefinitely, obtaining an effective infinite list of the functions whose totality proves. Define
Soundness makes every genuinely total, so is total and computable. If proved its totality, an index for would occur in the list, say , and then
which is impossible. Thus is a total computable function whose totality is not provable in .