Set Theory – Prove Well-Ordering Without Mathematical Induction

elementary-set-theoryinduction

Here is my attempt to prove the Well-Ordering Principle, i.e. that any non-empty subset of $\Bbb N$, the set of natural numbers, has a minimum element.

Proof. Suppose there exists a non-empty subset $S$ of $\Bbb N$ such that $S$ has NO minimum element.
Define $A = \left\{n\in \Bbb N : (\forall s\in S)(n \leq s)\right\}$. It is obvious that $1\in A$. Suppose $n\in A$, then for each $s \in S$, there exists $q \in N$ such that $n + q = s$. Since $q \ge 1$, $n+1 \leq s$, for all $s\in S$.
By Principle of mathematical induction, $A = \Bbb N$.
Take any $s_0 ∈ S$, then $(\forall s\in S)(s_0 \leq s)$. (This contradicts that $S$ has no minimum element).

How do I prove the statement without invoking Mathematical Induction? Also, I read that the proof of Principle of Mathematical Induction makes use of Well-Ordering. Can it be proven independently of Well-Ordering too?

Best Answer

In a version of the natural numbers $\mathbb{N}$ where each number besides zero has a (unique) predecessor, such as the von Neumann ordinals, or any other model of the Peano Axioms (including the induction axiom), we have the following:

Induction implies well-ordering:

Suppose $S$ has no minimal element. Then $ n = 0 \notin S$, because otherwise $n$ would be minimal. Similarly $n = 1 \notin S$, because then $1$ would be minimal, since $n = 0$ is not in $S$. Suppose none of $0, 1, 2, \cdots, n$ is in $S$. Then $n+1 \notin S$, because otherwise it would be minimal. Then by induction $S%$ is empty, a contradiction.

Well ordering implies induction:

Suppose $P(0)$ is true, and $P(n+1)$ is true whenever $P(n)$ is true. If $P(k)$ is not true for all integers, then let $S$ be the non-empty set of $k$ for which $P(k)$ is not true. By well-ordering $S$ has a least element, which cannot be $k = 0$. But then $P(k-1)$ is true, and so $P(k)$ is true, a contradiction.

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