# ZFC + not-CH, can a set with cardinality between $\aleph_0$ and $2^{\aleph_0}$ be defined?

Continuum hypothesis states, there is no set with cardinality between the integers and the reals.

There is a milestone result, that CH is independent from ZFC. That means, both of ZFC + CH, and ZFC + not-CH are consistent.

What if ZFC and not-CH. Thus, we have an axiom which states, there is a cardinality between $\aleph_0$ and $2^{\aleph_0}$.

Can a such set be defined?

• As far as the suggestion goes: set-theory should suffice in contrast to elementary-set-theory. – AlexR Feb 21 '15 at 22:47
• By the way: Actually ZFC isn't known to be consistent. See Asafs comment – AlexR Feb 21 '15 at 22:50
• @Meelo If somebody shows a set definition whose cardinality would be between them. Maybe I should have used the word "defined". If it passes better, feel free yourself to fix. – peterh Feb 21 '15 at 22:51
• And by the way, the independence of CH is now over 50 years old. Sure, new compared some things, but not really new in terms of mathematics. – Asaf Karagila Feb 21 '15 at 22:52
• @peterh those are cardinals (alephs), not ordinals, and only the first of those is countable. $\omega_1$ (from Asaf's answer) is the set of countable ordinals, and while that's not a construction per se, it is a somewhat 'graspable' definition. – Steven Stadnicki Feb 21 '15 at 23:06

In some sense, yes, you can always construct a set of size $\aleph_1$. Specifically $\omega_1$ is a set of size $\aleph_1$. And if the continuum hypothesis fails, it serves as a counterexample.
• Ok, but under "between" I understood a set, for which $\aleph_0 < |S| < \aleph_1$. – peterh Feb 21 '15 at 23:07
• This means that you didn't understand the definition of $\aleph_1$. There is no such set, by definition. Regardless to the continuum hypothesis or otherwise. – Asaf Karagila Feb 21 '15 at 23:08
• It is the smallest uncountable ordinal, equivalently the set of all countable ordinals, equivalently the canonical set of cardinality $\aleph_1$. If you look around you could find several answers explaining it in great detail. I'd give you some links but I'm already in bed. And doing so from my phone is a pain in the wrist. – Asaf Karagila Feb 21 '15 at 23:15