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Single Idea 10473

[filed under theme 5. Theory of Logic / J. Model Theory in Logic / 1. Logical Models ]

Full Idea

Model theory is the study of the interpretation of any language, formal or natural, by means of set-theoretic structures, with Tarski's truth definition as a paradigm.

Gist of Idea

Model theory studies formal or natural language-interpretation using set-theory

Source

Wilfrid Hodges (Model Theory [2005], Intro)

Book Ref

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.1


A Reaction

My attention is caught by the fact that natural languages are included. Might we say that science is model theory for English? That sounds like Quine's persistent message.


The 8 ideas from 'Model Theory'

Model theory studies formal or natural language-interpretation using set-theory [Hodges,W]
A 'structure' is an interpretation specifying objects and classes of quantification [Hodges,W]
|= should be read as 'is a model for' or 'satisfies' [Hodges,W]
The idea that groups of concepts could be 'implicitly defined' was abandoned [Hodges,W]
Since first-order languages are complete, |= and |- have the same meaning [Hodges,W]
|= in model-theory means 'logical consequence' - it holds in all models [Hodges,W]
First-order logic can't discriminate between one infinite cardinal and another [Hodges,W]
Models in model theory are structures, not sets of descriptions [Hodges,W]