General: Model theory is one of the four major branches of mathematical logic, has a number of applications to algebra (e.g. field theory, number theory and group theory). This course is the first in a sequence of three courses. The purpose of this course is to present the basic concepts and techniques of model theory with an emphasis on pure model theory. The main theorem of this course is Morley's theorem. The main theorem of this course is Morley's theorem. It will be presented in a way that permits several powerfull extensions.
Contents include: Similarity types, structures. Downward Lowenheim-Skolem theorem. Construction of models from constants, applications of the compactness theorem, model completness, elementary decideability results, Henkin's omitting types theorem, prime models. Elementary chains of models, some basic two-cardinal theorems, saturated models (characterization and existence), basic results on countable models including Ryll-Nardzewski's theorem. Indiscernible sequences, and connections with Ramsey theory, Ehrenfeucht-Mostowski models. Introduction to stability (including the equivalence of the order-property to instability), chain conditions in group theory corresponding to stability/superstablity/omega-stability, strongly minimal sets, various rank functions, primary models, and a proof of Morley's categoricity theorem. Basic facts about infinitary languages, computation of Hanf-Morley numbers.
Prerequisites: An undergraduate level course in logic.
Text: Rami Grossberg, A course in model theory, a book in preperation.
A draft is available at no cost for my students.
table
of contents
(from January 12, 2000).
Most of the material (and much more) appears in the following books:
Evaluation: Will be based on a final (3 hours written examination) and a 50 minutes midterm.
Date for midterm: Monday 2/28, instead of the lecture.