Hurkyl and Matt,
"There is a set, S, such that if n is in S, then n + 1 is in S".
Nothing in the Peano postulates say anything about sets. ZF does nothing but postulate the existence of a set with a given property. Induction is a mathematical technique for proof and thus cannot be one or more axioms. None of the three things mentioned in your sentence can be the same.
Before we can speak about a concept like set we have to define its existence.
For example:
ZF axiom of the empty set
There is a set, A, such that for any x, x not in A.
Also before we can use Peano postulates we have to define some "minimal input" to start with.
For example:
Peano's first postulate
1 is in N (also can be understood as: 1 is a natural number)
In both axiomatic systems, there are at least two basic concepts, which are:
1. A container (in the above examples they are A, N)
2. A content (in the above examples they are x, 1)
Now let us examine ZF axiom of infinity and Peano's second postulate:
ZF: There is a set, S, such that if n is in S, then n + 1 is in S.
Peano: If n is in N, then its "successor" n' is in N.
As we can see, both axioms are forcing induction on some content, which means that they are the same axiom.
The result of this forced induction is infinitely many elements called “the natural numbers”.
These infinitely many elements cannot be defined without the forced induction axiom.
Without the axiom of infinity, I can prove that there does not exist a finite set that contains all of the natural numbers. Here's the sketch:
Suppose F is a set of all natural numbers. The function f(n) = n + 1 is a 1-1 mapping from F onto a proper subset of itself. Therefore F is infinite.
Therefore, no finite set can contain all natural numbers.
Isn't f(n) = n + 1 equivalent to the axiom of infinity?
Tell me how many sets you want proved exist and I'll do it for you without any form of induction. I'll do two sets for you, as a freebie.
{} exists by the axiom of the empty set.
{{}} exists by the axiom of the pair set.
{} is unequal to {{}} because {} is in {{}} but {} is not in {}.
Thus, I've proven two sets, {} and {{}} exist.
Thank you Hurkyl for correcting my mistake here.
The axiom of the empty set and the empty set are the same.
In this address (http://www.cs.bilkent.edu.tr/~akman/jour-papers/air/node5.html ) I have found this:
“The Null Set Axiom guarantees that there is a set with no elements, i.e., the empty set {}. This is the only set whose existence is explicitly stated".
Again, let me put it this way, the ZF axiom of the empty set uses x
where x is something and then it says that for any x(=something),
x(=something) not in some set X.
This is nothing but an indirect and complicated way of what we can say directly and simply: "there exist set X with no elements" notated as {}.
(In my opinion any element whose existence is explicitly stated, is equivalent to the axiom that defines it).
"The Pair Set Axiom states the existence of a set which has a member when the only existing set is {}. So the set {{}} can now be formed now and we have two objects {} and {{}}. The application of the axiom repetitively yields any finite number of sets, each with only one or two elements.
It is the Sum Set Axiom which states the existence of sets containing any finite number of elements by defining the union of already existing sets. Thus
{{},{{}}}U{{{},{{}}}} = {{},{{}},{{},{{}}}}
However it should be noted that all these sets will be finite because only finitely many sets can be formed by applying Pair Set and Sum Set finitely many times.
It is the Axiom of Infinity which states the existence of at least one infinite set, from which other infinite sets can be formed. The set which the axiom asserts to exist is {{},{{}},{{},{{}}},{{},{{}},{{},{{}}}}}.
Thus, the ZF universe simply starts with the {} and extends to infinity. It can be noticed that cumulative hierarchy produces all finite sets and many infinite ones, but it does not produce all infinite sets.”
Well Pair Set Axiom and Sum Set Axiom are the basis of Von Neumann recursion.
If you don't see the invariant symmetry that exists in both Von Neumann recursion(micro level) and Collatz sequences(macro level) then you can't understand my proof.
The ZF axiom of infinity products (if n exists then n+1 exists implies infinitely many N members) are in the level of the macro tree, where Collatz sequences exists, therefore we cannot distinguish between them and the Collatz sequences because in the macro level they are the same elements.
Eech n in the induction macro level has its own internal unique structure produced by Von Neumann recursion.
When we examine the invariant Binary tree that stands in the basis of both Collatz sequences and Von Neumann recursion, then and only then we can see that Collatz sequences and ZF axiom of infinity are the same iteration.
General: any iteration that is based on root or exponent value 2, is equivalent to the ZF axiom of infinity iteration.
Please look again at:
http://www.geocities.com/complementarytheory/3n1proof.pdf
Thank you,
Organic