Global Choice without Excluded Middle in Dependent Type Theory

Diaconescu's theorem derives excluded middle from the axiom of choice, using propositional extensionality. We show that in dependent type theory without propositional extensionality, global choice alone does not imply excluded middle. We consider extensional Martin-Löf type theory with an impredicative universe of propositions included in the universe of types, extended with a global choice operator. We construct a consistent model of this type theory and show that the model refutes excluded middle and propositional extensionality. The model is built from staged sets, sets whose elements appear at stages of a well-order. It further validates proof irrelevance, inductive families, quotients with soundness, and a cumulative hierarchy of universes, which together cover a large fragment of the type theory of the proof assistant Lean. Even together with these features, global choice does not imply excluded middle.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
arXiv (Cornell University)
Published
2026-10-27
DOI
https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2610.37498
Primary Topic
Logic, programming, and type systems
Type
preprint
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preprint

Global Choice without Excluded Middle in Dependent Type Theory

Sewon Park
arXiv (Cornell University)
Logic, programming, and type systems
preprint

Global Choice without Excluded Middle in Dependent Type Theory

Sewon Park
preprint en

Abstract

Diaconescu's theorem derives excluded middle from the axiom of choice, using propositional extensionality. We show that in dependent type theory without propositional extensionality, global choice alone does not imply excluded middle. We consider extensional Martin-Löf type theory with an impredicative universe of propositions included in the universe of types, extended with a global choice operator. We construct a consistent model of this type theory and show that the model refutes excluded middle and propositional extensionality. The model is built from staged sets, sets whose elements appear at stages of a well-order. It further validates proof irrelevance, inductive families, quotients with soundness, and a cumulative hierarchy of universes, which together cover a large fragment of the type theory of the proof assistant Lean. Even together with these features, global choice does not imply excluded middle.

arXiv (Cornell University)
Logic, programming, and type systems
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