Order-Extension Principle/Proof 1

Proof
Let $\preceq$ be an ordering on the set $S$.

If $\preceq$ is a total ordering, the result is complete.

Suppose, then, that $\preceq$ is not a total ordering.

Let $T$ be the set of orderings on $S$ that extend $\preceq$, ordered by inclusion.

Let $C$ be a chain in $T$.

By Union of Chain of Orderings is Ordering, $\bigcup C$ is an ordering.

Thus every chain in $T$ has an upper bound in $T$.

By Zorn's Lemma, $T$ has a maximal element, $\le$.

$\le$ is seen to be a total ordering, as follows:

Suppose that $a, b \in S$, $a \not \le b$, and $b \not \le a$.

Let $\le'$ be the relation defined as:
 * $\le' \mathrel {:=} \le \cup \set {\tuple {a, b} }$

Let $\le'^-$ be the transitive closure of $\le'$.

Then by Ordering can be Expanded to compare Additional Pair, $\le'^-$ is an ordering.

But $\le'^- \mathrel {\supsetneq} \le$, contradicting the maximality of $\le$.

Thus, $\le$ is a total ordering.