A proof of the cut-elimination theorem in simple type theory

Abstract

In [4], I introduced a quasi-Boolean algebra, and showed that in a formal system of simple type theory, from which the cut rule is omitted, wffs form a quasi-Boolean algebra, and that the cut-elimination theorem can be formulated in algebraic language. In this paper we use the result of [4] to prove the cut-elimination theorem in simple type theory. The theorem was proved by M. Takahashi [2] in 1967 by using the concept of Schütte's semivaluation. We use maximal ideals of a quasi-Boolean algebra instead of semivaluations.The logical system we are concerned with is a modification of Schütte's formal system of simple type theory in [1] into Gentzen style.Inductive definition of types.0 and 1 are types.If τ1, …, τn are types, then (τ1, …, τn) is a type.Basic symbols.a1τ, a2τ, … for free variables of type τ.x1τ, x2τ, … for bound variables of type τ.An arbitrary number of constants of certain types.An arbitrary number of function symbols with certain argument places.