On κ‐hereditary Sets and Consequences of the Axiom of Choice

We will prove that some so‐called union theorems (see [2]) are equivalent in ZF⁰ to statements about the transitive closure of relations. The special case of “bounded” union theorems dealing with κ‐hereditary sets yields equivalents to statements about the transitive closure of κ‐narrow relations. The instance κ = ω₁ (i. e., hereditarily countable sets) yields an equivalent to Howard‐Rubin's Form 172 (the transitive closure Tc(x) of every hereditarily countable set x is countable). In particular, the countable union theorem (Howard‐Rubin's Form 31) and, a fortiori, the axiom of countable choice imply Form 172.