How to prove that " there is a set with no subset" is false?

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By " subset of S " I mean here : a set that is included in set S. ( I do not restrict " subset " to " proper subset").


In order to show that the asssertion is false, I can think of the following :

Suppose S is a set with no subset

(1) either this is set infinite , or finite

(2) if S is infinite, there is at least one proper subset of S such that this subset is equinumerous to S; hence, S has at least one proper subset, and, a fortiori, one subset

(3) If S is finite with cardinal n ,

  • then the cardinal of P(S) is 2 to the nth power.

  • in case S has no subset , the cardinal of P(S) is 0

  • so n should satisfy the equation : 2 to the nth power equals 0. ( That is : 2^n=0)

  • but there is no cardinal number satisfying this equation; hence an impossibility.

So, the set with no subset is neither infinite nor finite.

Consequently, there is no set with no subset.

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The empty set is a subset of every set.

The empty set is a proper subset of every set except the empty set.