Set Theory – Does n-Well Ordered Choice Schema Imply Axiom of Choice?

axiom-of-choicelo.logicset-theory

Define: $\operatorname {wo}^n(x) \iff \forall y (y \in^n x \to \operatorname {wo} (y))$

Where $\operatorname {wo}(y)$ refers to $y$ being well orderable.

Where $y \in^0 x \iff y=x \\ y \in^{n+1} x \iff \exists z (z \in^n x \land y \in z)$

n-well ordered choice: for $n=0,1,2,…$, for every set $x$ of nonempty sets, if $\operatorname{wo}^n(x)$, then $x$ admits a choice function on it.

If we add this schema to axioms of $\sf ZF$, would it entail axiom of choice?

Best Answer

$2$-well ordered choice is enough to imply AC.

Let $α$ be any ordinal, and look at $\mathcal P^2(α)\setminus\{\emptyset\}$.

We have $x\in^2 \mathcal P^2(α)\setminus\{\emptyset\}⇒∃z⊆\mathcal P(α)\;(x\in z)⇒x\subseteq α⇒x\text{ is well orderable}$.

A choice function on $\mathcal P^2(α)\setminus\{\emptyset\}$ induce a well ordering on $\mathcal P(α)$.

"powerset of well-orderable set is well-orderable" is famously equivalent to the axiom of choice.

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