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 ( ( 𝑧 ⊆ 𝐴 ∧ [⊊] Or 𝑧 ) → ∪ 𝑧 ∈ 𝐴 ) → ∃ 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 ∀ 𝑦 ∈ 𝐴 ¬ 𝑥 ⊊ 𝑦 )

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 ( ( 𝑧 ⊆ 𝐴 ∧ [⊊] Or 𝑧 ) → ∪ 𝑧 ∈ 𝐴 ) ) → ∃ 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 ∀ 𝑦 ∈ 𝐴 ¬ 𝑥 ⊊ 𝑦 )
5 3 4 mpan ⊢ ( ∀ 𝑧 ( ( 𝑧 ⊆ 𝐴 ∧ [⊊] Or 𝑧 ) → ∪ 𝑧 ∈ 𝐴 ) → ∃ 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 ∀ 𝑦 ∈ 𝐴 ¬ 𝑥 ⊊ 𝑦 )