Metamath Proof Explorer


Axiom ax-regs

Description: A strong version of the Axiom of Regularity. It states that if there exists a set with property ph , then there must exist a set with property ph such that none of its elements have property ph . This axiom can be derived from the axioms of ZF set theory as shown in axregs , but this derivation relies on ax-inf2 and is thus not possible in a finitist context. (Contributed by BTernaryTau, 29-Dec-2025)

Ref Expression
Assertion ax-regs ( ∃ 𝑥 𝜑 → ∃ 𝑦 ( ∀ 𝑥 ( 𝑥 = 𝑦 → 𝜑 ) ∧ ∀ 𝑧 ( 𝑧 ∈ 𝑦 → ¬ ∀ 𝑥 ( 𝑥 = 𝑧 → 𝜑 ) ) ) )

Detailed syntax breakdown

Step Hyp Ref Expression
0 vx ⊢ 𝑥
1 wph ⊢ 𝜑
2 1 0 wex ⊢ ∃ 𝑥 𝜑
3 vy ⊢ 𝑦
4 0 cv ⊢ 𝑥
5 3 cv ⊢ 𝑦
6 4 5 wceq ⊢ 𝑥 = 𝑦
7 6 1 wi ⊢ ( 𝑥 = 𝑦 → 𝜑 )
8 7 0 wal ⊢ ∀ 𝑥 ( 𝑥 = 𝑦 → 𝜑 )
9 vz ⊢ 𝑧
10 9 cv ⊢ 𝑧
11 10 5 wcel ⊢ 𝑧 ∈ 𝑦
12 4 10 wceq ⊢ 𝑥 = 𝑧
13 12 1 wi ⊢ ( 𝑥 = 𝑧 → 𝜑 )
14 13 0 wal ⊢ ∀ 𝑥 ( 𝑥 = 𝑧 → 𝜑 )
15 14 wn ⊢ ¬ ∀ 𝑥 ( 𝑥 = 𝑧 → 𝜑 )
16 11 15 wi ⊢ ( 𝑧 ∈ 𝑦 → ¬ ∀ 𝑥 ( 𝑥 = 𝑧 → 𝜑 ) )
17 16 9 wal ⊢ ∀ 𝑧 ( 𝑧 ∈ 𝑦 → ¬ ∀ 𝑥 ( 𝑥 = 𝑧 → 𝜑 ) )
18 8 17 wa ⊢ ( ∀ 𝑥 ( 𝑥 = 𝑦 → 𝜑 ) ∧ ∀ 𝑧 ( 𝑧 ∈ 𝑦 → ¬ ∀ 𝑥 ( 𝑥 = 𝑧 → 𝜑 ) ) )
19 18 3 wex ⊢ ∃ 𝑦 ( ∀ 𝑥 ( 𝑥 = 𝑦 → 𝜑 ) ∧ ∀ 𝑧 ( 𝑧 ∈ 𝑦 → ¬ ∀ 𝑥 ( 𝑥 = 𝑧 → 𝜑 ) ) )
20 2 19 wi ⊢ ( ∃ 𝑥 𝜑 → ∃ 𝑦 ( ∀ 𝑥 ( 𝑥 = 𝑦 → 𝜑 ) ∧ ∀ 𝑧 ( 𝑧 ∈ 𝑦 → ¬ ∀ 𝑥 ( 𝑥 = 𝑧 → 𝜑 ) ) ) )