Most general purpose proof assistants support versions of typed higher order logic. Experience has shown that these logics are capable of representing most of the mathematical models needed in Computer Science. However, perhaps there exist applications where ZF-style set theory is more natural, or even necessary. Examples may include Scott's classical inverse-limit construction of a model of the untyped - calculus (D1 ) and the semantics of parts of the Z specification notation. This paper

Set theory is the standard foundation for mathematics, but the majority of general purpose mechanised proof assistants support versions of type theory (higher order logic). Examples include Alf, Automath, Coq, EHDM, HOL, IMPS, LAMBDA, LEGO, Nuprl, PVS and Veritas. For many applications type theory works well and provides, for specification, the benefits of type-checking that are well-known in programming. However, there are areas where types get in the way or seem unmotivated. Furthermore, most people with a scientific or engineering background already know set theory, whereas type theory may appear inaccessable and so be an obstacle to the uptake of proof assistants based on it. This paper describes some experiments (using HOL) in combining set theory and type theory; the aim is to get the best of both worlds in a single system. Three approaches have been tried, all based on an axiomatically specified type V of ZF-like sets: (i) HOL is used without any additions besides V; (ii) an emb...

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