Universal Closures are Semantically Equivalent
Theorem
Let $\mathbf A$ be a WFF of predicate logic.
Let $\mathbf B, \mathbf B'$ be universal closures of $\mathbf A$.
Then $\mathbf B$ and $\mathbf B'$ are semantically equivalent.
Proof
Let $\AA$ be a structure for predicate logic.
Let $\mathbf B$ be any universal closure of $\mathbf A$.
Then $\mathbf B$ is a sentence of the form:
- $\forall x_1: \cdots \forall x_n: \mathbf A$
By definition of the models relation:
- $\AA \models_{\mathrm{PL}} \mathbf B$ if and only if $\map {\operatorname{val}_\AA} {\mathbf B} = \T$
Hence, recursively applying the definition of $\map {\operatorname{val}_\AA} \cdot \sqbrk \sigma$, we see:
- $\map {\operatorname{val}_\AA} {\mathbf B} \sqbrk \O = \T$ if and only if $\forall a_1, \ldots, a_n \in A: \mathop{\map {\operatorname{val}_\AA} {\mathbf A} } \sqbrk {\dfrac{x_1} {a_1} + \ldots + \dfrac{x_n} {a_n} } = \T$
where $\dfrac{x_1} {a_1} + \ldots + \dfrac{x_n} {a_n}$ denotes the iterated extension of an assignment.
By Value of Formula under Assignment Determined by Free Variables:
$\map {\operatorname{val}_\AA} {\mathbf A} \sqbrk {\dfrac{x_1} {a_1} + \ldots + \dfrac{x_n} {a_n} }$ only depends on the $a_i$ for the free variables $x_i$ in $\mathbf A$.
Because we check all possible $a_i \in A$ and all free variables $x_i$ in $\mathbf A$ are quantified over in $\mathbf B$, it follows that:
- $\forall a_1, \ldots, a_n \in A: \map {\operatorname{val}_\AA} {\mathbf A} \sqbrk {\dfrac{x_1} {a_1} + \ldots + \dfrac{x_n} {a_n} } = \T$
- $\forall a_1, \ldots, a_k \in A: \map {\operatorname{val}_\AA} {\mathbf A} \sqbrk {\dfrac{x_1} {a_1} + \ldots + \dfrac{x_k} {a_k} } = \T$
where $x_1, \ldots, x_k$ are the free variables of $\mathbf A$.
But this last condition does not depend on $\mathbf B$ beyond that it be a universal closure.
Hence, for any two universal closures $\mathbf B, \mathbf B'$ of $\mathbf A$:
- $\AA \models_{\mathrm{PL}} \mathbf B$ if and only if $\AA \models_{\mathrm{PL}} \mathbf B$
The result follows by definition of semantic equivalence.
$\blacksquare$
Sources
- 2009: Kenneth Kunen: The Foundations of Mathematics ... (previous) ... (next): $\text{II}.8$ Further Semantic Notions: Lemma $\text{II}.8.3$