Existential Quantifiers in Topology
by
Stephen Watson
York University

True statements with a leading existential quantifier occur everywhere in general and set-theoretic topology. Such theorems are known under various names such as elementary submodels, finite hulls, and scheduled relativizations. We analyze some difficult and well-known proofs in topology by studying these true existential statements, classifying them, and beginning to develop a theoretical understanding for their occurence in topology. Along the way, we give some surprisingly short new proofs of old and difficult theorems in set- theoretic topology.

Date received: March 20, 2001

Copyright © 2001 by the author(s). The author(s) of this document and the organizers of the conference have granted their consent to include this abstract in Atlas Conferences Inc. Document # cafw-67.