(Terminology) bijective correspondence between proper classes?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the terminology used to describe the bijective correspondence between classes of groups defined as pairs and 4-tuples. The participants emphasize that terms like "map," "function," or "bijection" are misleading since the domain and codomain are not sets. Reference is made to Jech's "Set Theory," which defines functions as classes, highlighting the importance of clarity in distinguishing between sets and classes in mathematical discourse.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of bijective correspondence in set theory
  • Familiarity with classes and sets in mathematical logic
  • Knowledge of Jech's "Set Theory" terminology
  • Basic concepts of group theory and operations
NEXT STEPS
  • Review Jech's "Set Theory," particularly pages 11-13, to understand his definitions of functions and classes
  • Explore the implications of using classes versus sets in mathematical definitions
  • Study the concept of bijections in the context of proper classes
  • Investigate the replacement schema in set theory and its relevance to class functions
USEFUL FOR

Mathematicians, logicians, and students of set theory who are interested in the precise language of mathematical definitions and the distinctions between sets and classes.

Fredrik
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I'm just looking for the right words to use to talk about something like the "bijective correspondence" between the class of groups defined as pairs and the class of groups defined as 4-tuples. I'm talking about the "map" ##(G,\star,i,e)\mapsto (G,\star)##. It seems to me that it shouldn't be called "map", "function", "bijection" or anything like that, since its "domain" and "codomain" aren't sets. So is there something we can call it?
 
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Check Jech's "Set theory" page 11 and 12. He defines functions (and thus bijections, etc.) simply as classes. So a function isn't necessarily between set according to his terminology.

However, he does always seem to be careful to make sure the reader knows it's a class. For example, check the replacement schema on page 13. He says "If the class ##F## is a function then...". In this case, we know ##F## isn't necessarily a set and thus that the domain and codomain aren't necessarily sets. This is different from saying "Take the function ##F## then..." which is more ambiguous.

So if I were you, I would use the same terminology, but I would make it clear we're dealing with classes.
 
Thank you, that's exactly what I needed. I don't think I've seen those more general definitions of relation, function and operation before, but now that I have them in front of me, they seem very natural.
 

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