EFTA02557792.pdf
dataset_11 pdf 99.5 KB • Feb 3, 2026 • 2 pages
From: Misha Gromov
Sent: Monday, December 4, 2017 1:24 PM
To: Jeffrey E.
Subject: Re:
Can't say i got it, why "understanding"
On Mon, 4 Dec 2017 07:59:01 -0500, Jeffrey E. wrote:
why is transfinit= recursion <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfinite_recursion> a good model for
understanding — the proo= that the result is well-defined uses transfinite induction. Let FF to be defined on the ordinals.
The i=ea now is that, in defining F(a) for an unspecified ordinal=a, one may assume that F((i) is already defined for all=0
< a and thus give a formula for F(a) in terms of these F((3). It then-follows by transfinite induction that there is one and
only one function s=tisfying the recursion formula up to and including a.
(more will be given later): define function F by letting F<=em>(a) be the smallest ordinal not in the set {F((i) I P <
a}, that is, the set =onsisting of all F((3) for &beta= < a. This definition assumes the F((3) known=in the very process of
defining F; this apparent vicious circle i= exactly what definition by transfinite recursion permits. In fact, F<=em>(0)
makes sense since there is no ordinal =beta; < 0, and the set (F(=beta;) I a < 0} is empty. So F(0) is equal to 0 (t=e
smallest ordinal of all). Now that F(0) is known, the definitio= applied to F(1) makes sense (it is the smallest ordinal not
in t=e singleton set (F(0)) = {0}
it sort of says an approximation to truth. by reduction. alt=rnately we can add other dimensions.
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