A transitive model M of ZFC is called a ground if the universe V is a set forcing extension of M. We show that the grounds ofV are downward set-directed. Consequently, we establish some fundamental theorems on the forcing method and the set-theoretic geology. For instance, the mantle, the intersection of all grounds, must be a model of ZFC. V has only set many grounds if and only if the mantle is a ground. We also show that if the universe (...) has some very large cardinal, then the mantle must be a ground. (shrink)

Superstrong cardinals are never Laver indestructible. Similarly, almost huge cardinals, huge cardinals, superhuge cardinals, rank-into-rank cardinals, extendible cardinals, 1-extendible cardinals, 0-extendible cardinals, weakly superstrong cardinals, uplifting cardinals, pseudo-uplifting cardinals, superstrongly unfoldable cardinals, Σn-reflecting cardinals, Σn-correct cardinals and Σn-extendible cardinals are never Laver indestructible. In fact, all these large cardinal properties are superdestructible: if κ exhibits any of them, with corresponding target θ, then in any forcing extension arising from nontrivial strategically <κ-closed forcing Q∈Vθ\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} (...) \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${\mathbb{Q} \in V_\theta}$$\end{document}, the cardinal κ will exhibit none of the large cardinal properties with target θ or larger. (shrink)

The mantle is the intersection of all ground models of V. We show that if there exists an extendible cardinal then the mantle is the smallest ground model of V.

For an uncountable cardinal κ, let be the assertion that every ω1‐stationary preserving poset of size is semiproper. We prove that is a strong principle which implies a strong form of Chang's conjecture. We also show that implies that is presaturated.

Let A be a non-empty set. A set $S\subseteq \mathcal{P}(A)$ is said to be stationary in $\mathcal{P}(A)$ if for every f: [A] <ω → A there exists x ∈ S such that x ≠ A and f"[x] <ω ⊆ x. In this paper we prove the following: For an uncountable cardinal λ and a stationary set S in \mathcal{P}(\lambda) , if there is a regular uncountable cardinal κ ≤ λ such that {x ∈ S: x ⋂ κ ∈ κ} is (...) stationary, then S can be split into κ disjoint stationary subsets. (shrink)

Starting with a λ-supercompact cardinal κ, where λ is a regular cardinal greater than or equal to κ, we produce a model with a stationary subset S of such that , the ideal generated by the non-stationary ideal over together with , is λ+-saturated. Using this model we prove the consistency of the existence of such a stationary set together with the Generalized Continuum Hypothesis . We also show that in our model we can make -saturated, where S is the (...) set of all such that , the order type of x, is a regular cardinal and x is stationary in sup. Furthermore we construct a model where is κ+-saturated but GCH fails. We show that if SS is stationary in , then S can be split into λ many disjoint stationary subsets. (shrink)

We study the subtlety of a cardinal κ and of. We show that, under a certain large cardinal assumption, it is consistent that is subtle for some but κ is not subtle, and the consistency of such a situation is much stronger than the existence of a subtle cardinal. We show that the subtlety of can be characterized by a certain partition relation on. We also study the property of faintness of κ, and the subtlety of with the strong inclusion.

We investigate the partition property of \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${\mathcal{P}_{\kappa}\lambda}$$\end{document}. Main results of this paper are as follows: (1) If λ is the least cardinal greater than κ such that \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${\mathcal{P}_{\kappa}\lambda}$$\end{document} carries a (λκ, 2)-distributive normal ideal without the partition property, then λ is \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${\Pi^1_n}$$\end{document}-indescribable for all n < ω but not \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} (...) \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${\Pi^2_1}$$\end{document} -indescribable. (2) If cf(λ) ≥ κ, then every ineffable subset of \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${\mathcal{P}_{\kappa}\lambda}$$\end{document} has the partition property. (3) If cf(λ) ≥ κ, then the completely ineffable ideal over \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${\mathcal{P}_{\kappa}\lambda}$$\end{document} has the partition property. (shrink)