Can a hyperset be its own powerset? And what is its stream?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of hypersets and whether a hyperset can be equal to its own powerset, denoted as S = pow S. Participants explore implications of this idea, particularly in relation to Cantor's theorem and the notion of streams in non-well-founded set theory.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions if it is possible for a hyperset S to satisfy S = pow S, suggesting that its stream would encompass the entire hierarchy V of pure sets.
  • Another participant mentions that the empty set is a well-founded set where its powerset is also the empty set, implying a contradiction with the idea of S = pow S.
  • Some participants discuss the implications of S = pow S as a version of Cantor's paradox, suggesting that a paraconsistent approach to set theory might be necessary to formalize this idea.
  • There is a reference to paraconsistent mathematics potentially circumventing Gödel's incompleteness results, raising questions about the completeness of mathematics under such frameworks.
  • One participant expresses concern that adopting paraconsistent logic could invalidate many established theorems in current mathematics.
  • Discussion includes the possibility of discussing classes in extensions of ZFC that could relate to the powerset concept without leading to contradictions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility of a hyperset being equal to its own powerset, with some supporting the idea and others highlighting contradictions. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives on the implications of paraconsistent logic and its relation to established mathematical theories.

Contextual Notes

Participants note limitations in understanding the concept of streams in the context of hypersets, and there are unresolved mathematical implications regarding the relationship between hypersets, powersets, and established set theory principles.

Stoney Pete
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This is probably a silly question but I am curious: Is it possible in hyperset theory to have a set S such that S = pow S? And wouldn't its stream then be the entire hierarchy V of pure sets?
 
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The empty set ##\emptyset## is a well-founded set such that ##\mathcal{P}(\emptyset)=\emptyset##. :wink:

All shenanigans aside, could you elaborate on or point to a reference on the stream of a set? I can't find any articles that mention streams in this particular context.
In any case, ##S=\mathcal{P}(S)## trivially implies that there is a bijection between ##S## and its power set. This contradicts Cantor's theorem which, to my understanding, is independent of the axiom of foundation and thus still applies in hyperset theory.
 
suremarc said:
The empty set ##\emptyset## is a well-founded set such that ##\mathcal{P}(\emptyset)=\emptyset##. :wink:

Incorrect.
 
micromass said:
Incorrect.
Sh-t, I swear I misread. Thanks for the intervention
 
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Here you find some information on the stream of a hyperset (= non-well-founded set): http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/nonwellfounded-set-theory/#1

Of course, when we write S = pow S then obviously we have a version of Cantor's paradox... So I guess this idea can only be formalized in a paraconsistent approach to set theory where contradiction is not explosive. Paraconsistent mathematics have been around for some time now: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mathematics-inconsistent/

Apparently such paraconsistent mathematics can circumvent Gödel's incompleteness results. So with a paraconsistent approach, mathematics can be complete.

I guess that if we want a set S such that S = pow S in order to generate the entire hierarchy of sets (and thereby the whole of mathematics, which can be seen as conainted within that hierarchy), we need something like a paraconsistent hyperset theory...
 
Stoney Pete said:
Here you find some information on the stream of a hyperset (= non-well-founded set): http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/nonwellfounded-set-theory/#1

Of course, when we write S = pow S then obviously we have a version of Cantor's paradox... So I guess this idea can only be formalized in a paraconsistent approach to set theory where contradiction is not explosive. Paraconsistent mathematics have been around for some time now: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mathematics-inconsistent/

Apparently such paraconsistent mathematics can circumvent Gödel's incompleteness results. So with a paraconsistent approach, mathematics can be complete.

I guess that if we want a set S such that S = pow S in order to generate the entire hierarchy of sets (and thereby the whole of mathematics, which can be seen as conainted within that hierarchy), we need something like a paraconsistent hyperset theory...
Paraconsistent logic does indeed seem useful, but discarding ##\neg (P\land\neg P)## would render many, many theorems of current mathematics unproven. If one does not wish to do so, then in extensions of ZFC it is possible to speak of a class such as ##V## whose power class (i.e. a class ##A## such that ##\forall x. (x\subseteq A\Rightarrow x\in A)##) is itself. I do not know of any related theorems in paraconsistent logic--I will have to do some more reading. Hope this helps
 
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