Truth definitions without exponentiation and the Σ1 collection scheme

Abstract

AbstractWe prove that: • if there is a model of IΔ0 + ¬exp with cofinal Σ1-definable elements and a Σ1 truth definition for Σ1 sentences, then IΔ0 + ¬exp + ¬BΣ1 is consistent,• there is a model of IΔ0 + Ω1 + ¬exp with cofinal Σ1-definable elements, both a Σ2 and a Π2 truth definition for Σ1 sentences, and for each n ≥ 2, a Σn truth definition for Σn sentences.The latter result is obtained by constructing a model with a recursive truth-preserving translation of Σ1 sentences into boolean combinations of sentences.We also present an old but previously unpublished proof of the consistency of IΔ0 + ¬exp + ¬BΣ1 under the assumption that the size parameter in Lessan's Δ0 universal formula is optimal. We then discuss a possible reason why proving the consistency of IΔ0 + ¬exp + ¬BΣ1 unconditionally has turned out to be so difficult.