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This is a follow up on a comment to one of my previous questions. What's the definition of $\omega$?

Are the following equivalent definition of $\omega$:

  1. $\omega$ is the initial ordinal of $\aleph_0$.

  2. $\omega$ is the least/first infinite ordinal.

  3. $\omega$ is the set of all finite ordinals.

  4. $\omega$ is the first non-zero limit ordinal

If yes, are there any more equivalent definitions, not on this list?

4 Answers 4

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I'd like to summarise what I have learnt from this question:

Point (1) is circular since $\aleph_0$ is defined to be the cardinality of $\omega$.

Let's assume that we define $\omega$ to be the first ordinal of infinite cardinality. Then it must contain all finite ordinals since the ordinals are a linear order with respect to $\subseteq$. From this it is immediately clear that (2) and (3) are equivalent. It is similarly easy to see that (4) is equivalent to (3).

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    @Brian, Matt: There is a minor difference between $\Bbb N$ and $\omega$. Where $\Bbb N$ is *the* model of second-order PA, the one true model in the entire universe, $\omega$ is an ordinal, and if one works with models of set theory - and in particular with non-well founded models - then one has to make the distinctions between the various $\omega$'s. The notation of $\Bbb N$ is preserved for *the* unique model of second-order PA, whereas $\omega$ is just an ordinal with cool properties (measurable, supercompact, etc.)2012-11-05
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$\omega$ is defined to be the set of all finite ordinals.

This is provably equivalent to the assertion "the least infinite ordinal" or "the least limit ordinal" (note that $0$ is not a limit ordinal. It is $0$).

It can be stated as the smallest inductive set. Or the set of all ordinals whose rank is finite.

Indeed it is also defined to be $\aleph_0$.

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    @Matt: One can also define limit ordinals as ordinals which stand on their hands while clapping like a unicorn. That doesn't mean this is a good definition.2012-11-05
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Here is a definition that works even without the axiom of infinity, in which case $\omega$ can be a proper class. Namely, $\omega$ is the class of finite ordinals. An ordinal $\alpha$ is finite if $\alpha=0=\emptyset$ or $\alpha$ is a successor ordinal that has only $0$ and other succesor ordinals as predecessors.

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    @Matt: It can be. $V_\omega$ is a model of $\mathbf{ZF}-\mathbf{Inf}+\lnot\mathbf{Inf}$ in which $\omega$ is a proper class: Michael’s definition works fine, but $\omega\notin V_\omega$.2012-11-05
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I prefer to say: $\omega$ is the order type of the natural numbers with its usual order. All those others are theorems or common identifications.

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    But all these definitions in the question are internal, whereas yours is external. I think it is actually quite relevant, especially in light of the other recent questions b Matt.2012-11-05