Epsilon-induction

In mathematics, $\in$-induction (epsilon-induction) is a variant of transfinite induction, which can be used in set theory to prove that all sets satisfy a given property P[x]. If the truth of the property for x follows from its truth for all elements of x, for every set x, then the property is true of all sets. In symbols:

$\forall x(\forall y(y\in x\rightarrow P[y])\rightarrow P[x])\rightarrow \forall xP[x]$

This principle, sometimes called the axiom of induction (in set theory), is equivalent to the axiom of regularity. $\in$-induction is a special case of well-founded induction.

The name is most often pronounced "epsilon-induction", because the set membership symbol $\in$ historically developed from the Greek letter $\epsilon$.