5 ms·
On the other hand, constructive set theory is still rather a niche part of mathematics (this may change with the recent development of HOTT). It is hard not to
by Gondolin 7y ago
On the other hand, constructive set theory is still rather a niche part of mathematics (this may change with the recent development of HOTT). It is hard not to use the LEM (and I am not good at it, I am not an expert on this subject. Expert say it gets easier over time to get used to not use LEM).
For instance, in the intuitionist reals, from "x >= 0 and x != 0" you cannot conclude that "x != 0". To prove x>0 you would need to exhibit a natural number n such that x>=1/n (so in other words you need a constructive proof that x>0).
But this is not always possible, you have models of R where there is an x != 0 which is smaller than all the 1/n.
There is however one nice feature of intuitionist theory: every geometric sentence which is provable in classical theory is actually true in intuitionist theory. So if you have a geometric sentence (https://ncatlab.org/nlab/show/geometric+theory https://ncatlab.org/nlab/show/geometric+theory) you can use LEM in your proofs, the proof will still be valid intuitionally!