Must axioms be proven to be compatible with other axioms

axioms

As we know, an axiom cannot be proven. It is an assumption that certain properties exist, and then we can learn more interesting properties (theorems) from anything that obeys these axioms.

So although you cannot prove an axiom, is there a way of proving whether an axiom is even allowed, whether it is sort of compatible with other axioms? Is this something that should be done before studying properties that are derived from having this axiom?

An example that comes to mind is the Axiom of Completeness, which states that every subset that is bounded above has a least upper bound. (Depending on the other axioms of the system, this may actually be a property that can be derived, but we will assume that this is one of the axioms). Is it necessary to show that such an axiom is compatible with the other axioms of the system and does not lead to contradictions, or is one allowed to just assume that the axiom holds? It doesn't feel right to take it as an axiom without any evidence that it fits in.

It feels pointless to study a system where an axiom might make the system actually impossible to exist. Then again, I remember hearing from someone that all axiomatic systems eventually lead to contradictions somewhere.

Can someone give me more information on all of this?

Best Answer

Suppose that a system of axioms is consistent. An axiom is compatible with this system if after adding it, the resulting system is still consistent. Yes, you should check whether adding this additional axiom preserves consistency. The technical name is known as equi-consistency. We say that the larger axiom system is equi-consistent with the smaller axiom system if the existence of a model of the smaller system implies the existence of a model for the larger system.

For the Axiom of Completeness, if the base axiom system is that of an ordered field, then we start with a model of the rational numbers and then construct a model of the real numbers using either Dedekind cuts or Cauchy sequences.

If you add an axiom to a base system and the resulting larger system is inconsistent, it means that the negation of the axiom is provable from the base system.