Relative normalization

Abstract: G{\"o}del's second incompleteness theorem forbids to prove, in a given theory U, the consistency of many theories-in particular, of the theory U itself-as well as it forbids to prove the normalization property for these theories, since this property implies their consistency. When we cannot prove in a theory U the consistency of a theory T , we can try to prove a relative consistency theorem, that is, a theorem of the form: If U is consistent then T is consistent. Following the same spirit, we show in this paper how to prove relative normalization theorems, that is, theorems of the form: If U is 1-consistent, then T has the normalization property.