paper

Variations on a Visserian Theme

arXiv:1702.07093

Abstract

A first order theory T is said to be "tight" if for any two deductively closed extensions U and V of T (both of which are formulated in the language of T), U and V are bi-interpretable iff U = V. By a theorem of Visser, PA (Peano Arithmetic) is tight. Here we show that Z_2 (second order arithmetic), ZF (Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory), and KM (Kelley-Morse theory of classes) are also tight theories.

16 pages