Bibliography: Set Theory with a Universal Set


Introduction

This is a comprehensive bibliography on axiomatic set theories which have a universal set. (Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory, the most widely studied set theory, does not have a universal set.) This field presently includes three main areas of study: "New Foundations", a set theory devised by W. van Orman Quine, the positive set theory of Helen Skala, and model-based extensions of Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory, initiated by Alonzo Church. Recent papers by Holmes (and the original papers of Andrzej Kisielwicz) on "double extension set theory" are referenced in the main body of the bibliography but not under "recent work"; the jury is still out on this system (two versions of which have been shown to be inconsistent) but if the surviving version is consistent, it must be admitted that it is a set theory with universal set.

For those unfamiliar with the field, two places to start are the New Foundations Home Page and Thomas Forster's book Set Theory with a Universal Set. A new option is afforded by the recent appearance of Holmes's elementary text.

Comments, corrections, and information about new publications should be sent to Randall Holmes. Announcements about both print and eprint publications are welcome.

Many thanks to Randall Holmes and Boise State University for hosting this web page, and to Thomas Forster, who provided the data for the first edition of this bibliography.

Last revision: Dec 2009, in progress (and I don't always remember to update this date when I change it).


Recent Work


Comprehensive Bibliography