This will be a talk for the Fudan University logic group on 16 July 4:00pm in Shanghai.

Abstract: The axiom V = HOD is contingently contingent—more precisely, it is class-forcing contingent that V = HOD is contingent with respect to set forcing. It follows that V = HOD and □(V ≠ HOD) are logically independent of the maximality principles MP and MP(ℝ) over ZFC. I will give a full review of the relevant notions. This will be a chalkboard talk concerning very new joint work in progress with Bokai Yao (Peking University).

The paper is in progress and will be available I expect in a few weeks.