Categorical large cardinals and the tension between categoricity and set-theoretic reflection

Abstract

Inspired by Zermelo's quasi-categoricity result characterizing the models of second-order Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory $\text{ZFC}_2$, we investigate when those models are fully categorical, characterized by the addition to $\text{ZFC}_2$ either of a first-order sentence, a first-order theory, a second-order sentence or a second-order theory. Thus we mount an analysis of the categorical large cardinals. This mathematical analysis leads naturally to philosophical issues concerning structuralism and realism, including especially the tension between categoricity and reflection. Ultimately we identify grounds for the preference of noncategoricity in one's foundations.