Hilbert's ε-calculus is based on an extension of the language of predicate logic by a term-forming operator εx. Two fundamental results about the ε-calculus, the first and second epsilon theorem, play a rôle similar to that which the cut-elimination theorem plays in sequent calculus. In particular, Herbrand's Theorem is a consequence of the epsilon theorems. The paper investigates the epsilon theorems and the complexity of the elimination procedure underlying their proof, as well as the length of Herbrand disjunctions of existential (...) theorems obtained by this elimination procedure. (shrink)

In this paper we formulate epsilon substitution method for a theory $\Pi _{2}^{0}$-FIX for non-monotonic $\Pi _{2}^{0}$ inductive definitions. Then we give a termination proof of the H-processes based on Ackermann [1].

In this paper we show that the lengths of the approximating processes in epsilon substitution method are calculable by ordinal recursions in an optimal way.

We formulate epsilon substitution method for a theory [Π0 1, Π0 1]-FIX for two steps non-monotonic Π0 1 inductive definitions. Then we give a termination proof of the H-processes based on Ackermann [1].