Least and greatest fixed points in intuitionistic natural deduction
This paper is a comparative study of a number of (intensional-semantically distinct) least and greatest fixed point operators that natural-deduction proof systems for intuitionistic logics can be extended with in a proof-theoretically defendable way. Eight pairs of such operators are analysed. The exposition is centred around a cube-shaped classification where each node stands for an axiomatization of one pair of operators as logical constants by intended proof and reduction rules and each arc for a proof- and reduction-preserving encoding of one pair in terms of another. The three dimensions of the cube reflect three orthogonal binary options: conventional-style vs. Mendler-style, basic ("[co]iterative") vs. enhanced ("primitive-[co]recuxsive"), simple vs. course-of-value [co]induction. Some of the axiomatizations and encodings are well known; others, however, are novel; the classification into a cube is also new. The differences between the least fixed point operators considered are illustrated on the example of the corresponding natural number types. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
least and greatest fixed points natural deduction (co)inductive types typed lambda calculi coding styles schemes of (total) (co)recursion