TITLE: Does there exist a non-trivial, associative Lie algebra?
QUESTION [17 upvotes]: In a Linear Algebra text I'm reading the author states that a Lie Algebra $K$ is non-associative unless we have $[x, y] = 0$ for all $x, y \in K$ (i.e, if $[v, [u, w]] = [[v, u], w]$ for all $v, u, w \in K$, then $[x, y] = 0$ for all $x, y \in K$). Is this true? Because I don't see it. By the way, the text is 'The Linear Algebra a Beginning Graduate Student Ought to Know' by Johnathan S. Golan. Thanks.

REPLY [20 votes]: It's not true.
Start with the Jacobi identity: $[a,[b,c]] + [b,[c,a]] + [c,[a,b]] = 0.$
If $[,]$ is associative then $[a,[b,c]] = [[a,b],c] = -[c,[a,b]]$, so $[b,[c,a]] = 0$ for all $a,b,c$.  In other words, all brackets must lie in the center of the Lie algebra.
Conversely, if we define a bilinear skew-symmetric $[,]$ for which $[b,[c,a]]=0$ holds identically, then we have a Lie algebra because the Jacobi identity is trivially satisfied.
So take a three dimensional vector space with basis $x,y,z$ and define $[x,y]=z$ and $[x,z]=0$ and $[y,z]=0$.  This gives a counterexample.
It is true (and we have proved above), that if the Lie bracket is associative then we have $[[a,b],c] = [a,[b,c]] = 0$ for all $a,b,c$.