Invariant Measures in Free MV-Algebras

Abstract

MV-algebras can be viewed either as the Lindenbaum algebras of Łukasiewicz infinite-valued logic, or as unit intervals of lattice-ordered abelian groups in which a strong order unit has been fixed. The free n-generated MV-algebra Free _n is representable as an algebra of continuous piecewise-linear functions with integer coefficients over the unit cube [0, 1] ⁿ . The maximal spectrum of Free _n is canonically homeomorphic to [0, 1] ⁿ , and the automorphisms of the algebra are in 1–1 correspondence with the pwl homeomorphisms with integer coefficients of the unit cube. In this article, we prove that the only probability measure on [0, 1] ⁿ which is null on underdimensioned 0-sets and is invariant under the group of all such homeomorphisms is the Lebesgue measure. From the viewpoint of lattice-ordered abelian groups, this fact means that, in relevant cases, fixing an automorphism-invariant strong unit implies fixing a distinguished probability measure on the maximal spectrum. From the viewpoint of algebraic logic, it means that the only automorphism-invariant truth averaging process that detects pseudotrue propositions is the integral with respect to Lebesgue measure.

Key Words:

• Automorphism-invariance
• MV-algebras
• Piecewise-linear homeomorphisms
• State

2000 Mathematics Subject Classification:

• 06D35
• 37A05

Notes

Communicated by H. D. Macpherson.