The maximum principle in forcing and the axiom of choice

Abstract

In this paper we prove that the maximum principle in forcing is equivalent to the axiom of choice. The maximum principle is the property of forcing: p ||- exists x theta(x) iff for some name tau p ||- theta(tau). We also look at three similar partial orders in the Basic Cohen model for the failure of the axiom of choice. We show that despite their apparent similarity the maximum principle holds for only one of the three.