Finite Ordinal

🅟 Mar 05, 2026

  🅤 Jul 09, 2026

Definition 1.

We define

\[\N = \bigcap\{X : \empt \in X \,\land\, \text{$X$ is inductive}\}\]

as the set of finite ordinals or natural numbers. Axiom of Infinity guarantees the existence of at least one such $X$.

  • $\omega := \N$ itself is an ordinal. $\omega$ is used with emphasis on an ordinal, $\N$ is used with emphasis on a set.

  • An ordinal is infinite if it is not finite.

  • We define

    \[0 = \empt, \quad 1 = 0 + 1, \quad 2 = 1 + 1, \quad 3 = 2 + 1\]

    and so on.

See Also. Natural Numbers


Proposition 1.

$\omega$ is the least limit ordinal.

Proof. By LIM-ORD > Proposition 1 (I) $\lrimp$ (V).