We review different conceptions of the set-theoretic multiverse and evaluate their features and strengths. In Sect. 1, we set the stage by briefly discussing the opposition between the ‘universe view’ and the ‘multiverse view’. Furthermore, we propose to classify multiverse conceptions in terms of their adherence to some form of mathematical realism. In Sect. 2, we use this classification to review four major conceptions. Finally, in Sect. 3, we focus on the distinction between actualism and potentialism with regard to the (...) universe of sets, then we discuss the Zermelian view, featuring a ‘vertical’ multiverse, and give special attention to this multiverse conception in light of the hyperuniverse programme introduced in Arrigoni and Friedman (2013). We argue that the distinctive feature of the multiverse conception chosen for the hyperuniverse programme is its utility for finding new candidates for axioms of set theory. (shrink)

We review different conceptions of the set-theoretic multiverse and evaluate their features and strengths. In Sect. 1, we set the stage by briefly discussing the opposition between the ‘universe view’ and the ‘multiverse view’. Furthermore, we propose to classify multiverse conceptions in terms of their adherence to some form of mathematical realism. In Sect. 2, we use this classification to review four major conceptions. Finally, in Sect. 3, we focus on the distinction between actualism and potentialism with regard to the (...) universe of sets, then we discuss the Zermelian view, featuring a ‘vertical’ multiverse, and give special attention to this multiverse conception in light of the hyperuniverse programme introduced in Arrigoni-Friedman :77–96, 2013). We argue that the distinctive feature of the multiverse conception chosen for the hyperuniverse programme is its utility for finding new candidates for axioms of set theory. (shrink)

In the first part of the article, we show that if $\omega \le \kappa < \lambda$ are cardinals, ${\kappa ^{ < \kappa }} = \kappa$, and λ is weakly compact, then in $V\left[M {\left} \right]$ the tree property at $$\lambda = \left^{V\left[ {\left} \right]} $$ is indestructible under all ${\kappa ^ + }$-cc forcing notions which live in $V\left[ {{\rm{Add}}\left} \right]$, where ${\rm{Add}}\left$ is the Cohen forcing for adding λ-many subsets of κ and $\left$ is the standard Mitchell forcing for (...) obtaining the tree property at $\lambda = \left^{V\left[ {\left} \right]} $. This result has direct applications to Prikry-type forcing notions and generalized cardinal invariants. In the second part, we assume that λ is supercompact and generalize the construction and obtain a model ${V^{\rm{*}}}$, a generic extension of V, in which the tree property at ${\left^{{V^{\rm{*}}}}}$ is indestructible under all ${\kappa ^ + }$-cc forcing notions living in $V\left[ {{\rm{Add}}\left} \right]$, and in addition under all forcing notions living in ${V^{\rm{*}}}$ which are ${\kappa ^ + }$-closed and “liftable” in a prescribed sense. (shrink)

In this paper we review the most common forms of reflection and introduce a new form which we call sharp-generated reflection. We argue that sharp-generated reflection is the strongest form of reflection which can be regarded as a natural generalization of the Lévy reflection theorem. As an application we formulate the principle sharp-maximality with the corresponding hypothesis IMH#. IMH# is an analogue of the IMH :591–600, 2006)) which is compatible with the existence of large cardinals.

We show that the tree property, stationary reflection and the failure of approachability at \ are consistent with \= \kappa ^+ < 2^\kappa \), where \ is a singular strong limit cardinal with the countable or uncountable cofinality. As a by-product, we show that if \ is a regular cardinal, then stationary reflection at \ is indestructible under all \-cc forcings.

In this paper we introduce some fusion properties of forcing notions which guarantee that an iteration with supports of size ⩽κ not only does not collapse κ+ but also preserves the strength of κ. This provides a general theory covering the known cases of tree iterations which preserve large cardinals [3], Friedman and Halilović [5], Friedman and Honzik [6], Friedman and Magidor [8], Friedman and Zdomskyy [10], Honzik [12]).

The continuum function αmaps to2α on regular cardinals is known to have great freedom. Let us say that F is an Easton function iff for regular cardinals α and β, image and α<β→F≤F. The classic example of an Easton function is the continuum function αmaps to2α on regular cardinals. If GCH holds then any Easton function is the continuum function on regular cardinals of some cofinality-preserving extension V[G]; we say that F is realised in V[G]. However if we also wish (...) to preserve measurable cardinals, new restrictions must be put on F. We say that κ is F-hypermeasurable iff there is an elementary embedding j:V→M with critical point κ such that H)Vsubset of or equal toM; j will be called a witnessing embedding. We will show that if GCH holds then for any Easton function F there is a cofinality-preserving generic extension V[G] such that if κ, closed under F, is F-hypermeasurable in V and there is a witnessing embedding j such that j≥F, then κ will remain measurable in V[G]. (shrink)

In this paper we review the most common forms of reflection and introduce a new form which we call sharp‐generated reflection. We argue that sharp‐generated reflection is the strongest form of reflection which can be regarded as a natural generalization of the Lévy reflection theorem. As an application we formulate the principle sharp‐maximality with the corresponding hypothesis. The statement is an analogue of the (Inner Model Hypothesis, introduced in ) which is compatible with the existence of large cardinals.

This collection documents the work of the Hyperuniverse Project which is a new approach to set-theoretic truth based on justifiable principles and which leads to the resolution of many questions independent from ZFC. The contributions give an overview of the program, illustrate its mathematical content and implications, and also discuss its philosophical assumptions. It will thus be of wide appeal among mathematicians and philosophers with an interest in the foundations of set theory. The Hyperuniverse Project was supported by the John (...) Templeton Foundation from January 2013 until September 2015. (shrink)

We show that if \ is \\)-hypermeasurable for some cardinal \ with \ \le \mu \) and GCH holds, then we can extend the universe by a cofinality-preserving forcing to obtain a model \ in which the \\)-hypermeasurability of \ is indestructible by the Cohen forcing at \ of any length up to \ is \\)-hypermeasurable in \). The preservation of hypermeasurability is useful for subsequent arguments. The construction of \ is based on the ideas of Woodin and Cummings :1–39, (...) 1992) for preservation of measurability, but suitably generalised and simplified to achieve a more general result. Unlike the Laver preparation :385–388, 1978) for a supercompact cardinal, our preparation non-trivially increases the value of \, which is equal to \ in \ is still true in \ if we start with GCH). (shrink)

This is a survey paper which discusses the impact of large cardinals on provability of the Continuum Hypothesis. It was Gödel who first suggested that perhaps “strong axioms of infinity” could decide interesting set-theoretical statements independent over ZFC, such as CH. This hope proved largely unfounded for CH—one can show that virtually all large cardinals defined so far do not affect the status of CH. It seems to be an inherent feature of large cardinals that they do not determine properties (...) of sets low in the cumulative hierarchy if such properties can be forced to hold or fail by small forcings.The paper can also be used as an introductory text on large cardinals as it defines all relevant concepts. (shrink)

We say that κ is μ-hypermeasurable for a cardinal μ≥κ+ if there is an embedding j:V→M with critical point κ such that HV is included in M and j>μ. Such a j is called a witnessing embedding.Building on the results in [7], we will show that if V satisfies GCH and F is an Easton function from the regular cardinals into cardinals satisfying some mild restrictions, then there exists a cardinal-preserving forcing extension V* where F is realised on all V-regular (...) cardinals and moreover, all F-hypermeasurable cardinals κ, where F>κ+, with a witnessing embedding j such that either j=κ+ or j≥F, are turned into singular strong limit cardinals with cofinality ω. This provides some partial information about the possible structure of a continuum function with respect to singular cardinals with countable cofinality.As a corollary, this shows that the continuum function on a singular strong limit cardinal κ of cofinality ω is virtually independent of the behaviour of the continuum function below κ, at least for continuum functions which are simple in that 2α{α+,α++} for every cardinal α below κ ≥F or j=κ+). (shrink)

We say that a regular cardinal κ,, has the tree property if there are no κ‐Aronszajn trees; we say that κ has the weak tree property if there are no special κ‐Aronszajn trees. Starting with infinitely many weakly compact cardinals, we show that the tree property at every even cardinal,, is consistent with an arbitrary continuum function below which satisfies,. Next, starting with infinitely many Mahlo cardinals, we show that the weak tree property at every cardinal,, is consistent with an (...) arbitrary continuum function below which satisfies,. Thus the tree property has no provable effect on the continuum function below except for the trivial requirement that the tree property at implies for every infinite κ. (shrink)

In this short paper, we describe another class of forcing notions which preserve measurability of a large cardinal $\kappa$ from the optimal hypothesis, while adding new unbounded subsets to $\kappa$. In some ways these forcings are closer to the Cohen-type forcings—we show that they are not minimal—but, they share some properties with treelike forcings. We show that they admit fusion-type arguments which allow for a uniform lifting argument.

Let M be a transitive model of ZFC. We say that a transitive model of ZFC, N, is an outer model of M if M ⊆ N and ORD ∩ M = ORD ∩ N. The outer model theory of M is the collection of all formulas with parameters from M which hold in all outer models of M. Satisfaction defined with respect to outer models can be seen as a useful strengthening of first-order logic. Starting from an inaccessible cardinal (...) κ, we show that it is consistent to have a transitive model M of ZFC of size κ in which the outer model theory is lightface definable, and moreover M satisfies V = HOD. The proof combines the infinitary logic L∞,ω, Barwise’s results on admissible sets, and a new forcing iteration of length strictly less than κ+ which manipulates the continuum function on certain regular cardinals below κ. In the Appendix, we review some unpublished results of Mack Stanley which are directly related to our topic. (shrink)

The equiconsistency of a measurable cardinal with Mitchell order o=κ++ with a measurable cardinal such that 2κ=κ++ follows from the results by W. Mitchell [13] and M. Gitik [7]. These results were later generalized to measurable cardinals with 2κ larger than κ++ .In Friedman and Honzik [5], we formulated and proved Eastonʼs theorem [4] in a large cardinal setting, using slightly stronger hypotheses than the lower bounds identified by Mitchell and Gitik , for a suitable μ, instead of the cardinals (...) with the appropriate Mitchell order).In this paper, we use a new idea which allows us to carry out the constructions in Friedman and Honzik [5] from the optimal hypotheses. It follows that the lower bounds identified by Mitchell and Gitik are optimal also with regard to the general behavior of the continuum function on regulars in the context of measurable cardinals. (shrink)