For a set x, let ${\cal S}\left$ be the set of all permutations of x. We prove in ZF several results concerning this notion, among which are the following: For all sets x such that ${\cal S}\left$ is Dedekind infinite, $\left| {{{\cal S}_{{\rm{fin}}}}\left} \right| < \left| {{\cal S}\left} \right|$ and there are no finite-to-one functions from ${\cal S}\left$ into ${{\cal S}_{{\rm{fin}}}}\left$, where ${{\cal S}_{{\rm{fin}}}}\left$ denotes the set of all permutations of x which move only finitely many elements. For all sets (...) x such that ${\cal S}\left$ is Dedekind infinite, $\left| {{\rm{seq}}\left} \right| < \left| {{\cal S}\left} \right|$ and there are no finite-to-one functions from ${\cal S}\left$ into seq, where seq denotes the set of all finite sequences of elements of x. For all infinite sets x such that there exists a permutation of x without fixed points, there are no finite-to-one functions from ${\cal S}\left$ into x. For all sets x, $|{[x]^2}| < \left| {{\cal S}\left} \right|$. (shrink)

For a set x, let S(x) be the set of all permutations of x. We prove by the method of permutation models that the following statements are consistent with ZF: (1) There is an infinite set x such that |p(x)|<|S(x)|<|seq^1-1(x)|<|seq(x)|, where p(x) is the powerset of x, seq(x) is the set of all finite sequences of elements of x, and seq^1-1(x) is the set of all finite sequences of elements of x without repetition. (2) There is a Dedekind infinite set (...) x such that |S(x)|<|[x]^3| and such that there exists a surjection from x onto S(x). (3) There is an infinite set x such that there is a finite-to-one function from S(x) into x. (shrink)

Bagaria and Magidor introduced the notion of almost strong compactness, which is very close to the notion of strong compactness. Boney and Brooke-Taylor asked whether the least almost strongly compact cardinal is strongly compact. Goldberg gives a positive answer in the case [Formula: see text] holds from below and the least almost strongly compact cardinal has uncountable cofinality. In this paper, we give a negative answer for the general case. Our result also gives an affirmative answer to a question of (...) Bagaria and Magidor. (shrink)

In this paper, we characterize the possible cofinalities of the least $\lambda $ -strongly compact cardinal. We show that, on the one hand, for any regular cardinal, $\delta $, that carries a $\lambda $ -complete uniform ultrafilter, it is consistent, relative to the existence of a supercompact cardinal above $\delta $, that the least $\lambda $ -strongly compact cardinal has cofinality $\delta $. On the other hand, provably the cofinality of the least $\lambda $ -strongly compact cardinal always carries a (...) $\lambda $ -complete uniform ultrafilter. (shrink)