Metamath Proof Explorer


Theorem zorn

Description: Zorn's Lemma. If the union of every chain (with respect to inclusion) in a set belongs to the set, then the set contains a maximal element. This theorem is equivalent to the Axiom of Choice. Theorem 6M of Enderton p. 151. See zorn2 for a version with general partial orderings. (Contributed by NM, 12-Aug-2004)

Ref Expression
Hypothesis zornn0.1 𝐴 ∈ V
Assertion zorn ( ∀ 𝑧 ( ( 𝑧𝐴 ∧ [] Or 𝑧 ) → 𝑧𝐴 ) → ∃ 𝑥𝐴𝑦𝐴 ¬ 𝑥𝑦 )

Proof

Step Hyp Ref Expression
1 zornn0.1 𝐴 ∈ V
2 numth3 ( 𝐴 ∈ V → 𝐴 ∈ dom card )
3 1 2 ax-mp 𝐴 ∈ dom card
4 zorng ( ( 𝐴 ∈ dom card ∧ ∀ 𝑧 ( ( 𝑧𝐴 ∧ [] Or 𝑧 ) → 𝑧𝐴 ) ) → ∃ 𝑥𝐴𝑦𝐴 ¬ 𝑥𝑦 )
5 3 4 mpan ( ∀ 𝑧 ( ( 𝑧𝐴 ∧ [] Or 𝑧 ) → 𝑧𝐴 ) → ∃ 𝑥𝐴𝑦𝐴 ¬ 𝑥𝑦 )