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A Cheerful Introduction to Forcing and the Continuum Hypothesis

2007/12/14 by Kenny Easwaran, Easwaran, Kenny
Engineering · #FOS: Mathematics #General Mathematics (math.GM) #Logic (math.LO) #Metallurgy and Material Forming

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0712.2279

openalex publication_date 2007/12/14 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

This is an introduction to the set-theoretic method of forcing, including its application in proving the independence of the Continuum Hypothesis from the Zermelo-Fraenkel axioms of set theory. I presuppose no particular mathematical background beyond some familiarity with set theory and mathematical logic - in particular, no algebra is presupposed, though it can be useful. The goal is to have a document that makes this material accessible to mathematics graduate students in all fields, and to philosophers with an interest in set theory and mathematical logic but no other mathematical background.

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