Nilpotent BCK-algebras

Abstract

We recall the derived subalgebra of a BCK-algebra, and use this to define the derived ideal. Using the derived ideal, we show that the category of commutative BCK-algebras is a reflective subcategory of the category of BCK-algebras. After this, we introduce central series and define a notion of nilpotence for BCK-algebras and prove some properties of nilpotence. In particular, for any variety of BCK-algebras, the sub-class of nilpotent algebras is a sub-pseudovariety, though in general not a variety. We also show that the class of BCK-algebras of nilpotence class at most $c$ is a sub-quasivariety of all BCK-algebras, and is a variety if and only if $c=1$. We close by showing that every finite BCK-algebra is nilpotent.