Axiom of Extensionality in set theory

E459317

The Axiom of Extensionality in set theory states that a set is completely determined by its members, meaning two sets are equal if and only if they have exactly the same elements.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Axiom of Extensionality 0

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf axiom of set theory
logical axiom schema
alternativeFormulation ∀A∀B(A = B ↔ ∀x(x ∈ A ↔ x ∈ B))
appearsIn standard presentations of ZF axioms
assumes equality is a primitive logical notion
category foundational principle of mathematics
compatibleWith axiom of choice
axiom of foundation
axiom of infinity
axiom schema of replacement
axiom schema of separation
constrains equality of sets
contrastsWith intensional characterizations of objects
ensures uniqueness of sets determined by membership
expresses extensionality principle for sets
field set theory
formalStatement ∀A∀B(∀x(x ∈ A ↔ x ∈ B) → A = B)
hasConsequence there is at most one empty set
there is at most one set with a given membership profile
hasVariant extensionality for classes in class theories
historicalOrigin introduced by Ernst Zermelo in axiomatizations of set theory
holdsIn the cumulative hierarchy V of sets
implies any property of a set is determined by properties of its elements in pure set-theoretic representation
if two sets have different elements then they are not equal
no two distinct sets have exactly the same elements
isIndependentOf other ZF axioms given suitable formalization
language first-order language of set theory with ∈ and =
logicalForm first-order sentence with equality and membership
modelTheoreticRole restricts possible interpretations of the membership relation
necessaryFor identifying natural numbers with specific sets in set-theoretic constructions
identifying ordered pairs with specific sets in set-theoretic constructions
philosophicalInterpretation identifies sets with their extension rather than their intension
relatesConcept membership relation
set equality
role identifies sets with their membership structure
rules out urelements in pure set theories unless explicitly allowed
states sets are determined solely by their members
two sets are equal if and only if they have the same elements
symbolUses equality symbol =
membership symbol ∈
usedIn Morse–Kelley set theory NERFINISHED
Zermelo set theory NERFINISHED
Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory NERFINISHED
most standard axiomatizations of set theory
von Neumann–Bernays–Gödel set theory NERFINISHED
usedToProve uniqueness of set-theoretic constructions defined by comprehension-like conditions
uniqueness of the empty set

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Basic Law V relatedTo Axiom of Extensionality in set theory