Forcing (mathematics) - Forcing

Forcing

Given a generic filter GP, one proceeds as follows. The subclass of P-names in M is denoted M(P). Let M={val(u,G):uM(P)}. To reduce the study of the set theory of M to that of M, one works with the forcing language, which is built up like ordinary first-order logic, with membership as binary relation and all the names as constants.

Define p φ(u1,…,un) (read "p forces φ in model M with poset P") where p is a condition, φ is a formula in the forcing language, and the ui are names, to mean that if G is a generic filter containing p, then M ⊨ φ(val(u1,G),…,val(un,G)). The special case 1 φ is often written P φ or φ. Such statements are true in M no matter what G is.

What is important is that this "external" definition of the forcing relation p φ is equivalent to an "internal" definition, defined by transfinite induction over the names on instances of uv and u = v, and then by ordinary induction over the complexity of formulas. This has the effect that all the properties of M are really properties of M, and the verification of ZFC in M becomes straightforward. This is usually summarized as three key properties:

  • Truth: M ⊨ φ(val(u1,G),…,val(un,G)) if and only if it is forced by G, that is, for some condition pG, p φ(u1,…,un).
  • Definability: The statement "p φ(u1,…,un)" is definable in M.
  • Coherence: If p φ(u1,…,un) and qp, then q φ(u1,…,un).

We define the forcing relation in V by induction on complexity, in which we simultaneously define forcing of atomic formulas by ∈-induction.

1. p ab if for any qp there is rq such that there is (s, c) ∈ b such that rs and r a = c.

2. p a = b if p ab and p ba

where
p ab if for all qp and for all (r,c) ∈ a if qr then q cb.

3. p ¬ f if there is no qp such that q f.

4. p fg if p f and p g.

5. px f if p f(a) for any name a where f(a) is result of replacing all free occurrences of x in f by a.

In 1–5 p is an arbitrary condition. In 1 and 2 a and b are arbitrary names and in 3–5 f and g are arbitrary formulas. This definition provides the possibility of working in V without any countable transitive model M. The following statement gives announced definability:

p f if and only if Mp f.

(Where no confusion is possible we simply write .)

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Famous quotes containing the word forcing:

    “Who cares what they say? It’s a nice way to live,
    Just taking what Nature is willing to give,
    Not forcing her hand with harrow and plow.”
    Robert Frost (1874–1963)

    It is quite true, as some poets said, that the God who created man must have had a sinister sense of humor, creating him a reasonable being, yet forcing him to take this ridiculous posture, and driving him with blind craving for this ridiculous performance.
    —D.H. (David Herbert)

    An empty head is not really empty; it is stuffed with rubbish. Hence the difficulty of forcing anything into an empty head.
    Eric Hoffer (1902–1983)