What books/notes should one read to learn model theory? As I do not have much background in logic it would be ideal if such a reference does not assume much background in logic. Also, as I am interested in arithmetic geometry, is there a reference with a view towards such a topic?
Learning Model Theory
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4For the curious and lazy, @Kaveh's two links are to Shoenfield, _Mathematical Logic_, and Mendelson, _Introduction to Mathematical Logic_. – 2012-06-23
10 Answers
I really like Introduction to Model Theory by David Marker. It starts from scratch and has a lot of algebraic examples.
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0FWIW, I have found Marker's book (which I read as a graduate student, with zero prior exposure to the subject) to be a significantly easier and quicker read than most other model theory texts I have read, or tried to read, since then. – 2012-08-04
For a free alternative, Peter L. Clark has posted his notes Introduction to Model Theory on his website. He says no prior knowledge of logic is assumed and the applications are primarily in the areas of Algebra, Algebraic Geometry and Number Theory.
You could give Bruno Poizat's A Course in Model Theory a try.
If you are feeling particularly ambitious, perhaps Model Theory and Algebraic Geometry (E. Bouscaren, ed.), which intends to gives an introduction to certain concepts in the interplay of model theory and algebraic geometry, with a view to an exposition of Hrushovski's proof of the geometric Mordell-Lang Conjecture. If nothing else, this work should give an idea of what concepts of model theory have found application in algebraic geometry (at least in the aforementioned proof), which should give you an idea of perhaps what topics to look for in a model theory text.
Besides Marker, for basic model theory I also recommend Barwise's compilation "Handbook of mathematical logic", Chang, Keisler & Troelstra's "Model theory" and Wilfrid Hodges' "Model theory" (he's also written "A shorter model theory", but I haven't seen it.).
However, I've only ever used them as reference, not as an actual textbook, so I can't guarantee their quality as such.
Also, as I am interested in arithmetic geometry, is there a reference with a view towards such a topic?
One paper I was able to find was Model Theory and Diophantine Geometry by Anand Pillay
There are a bunch of suggestions on Peter Smith's blog.
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2I second Peter Smith's enthusiasm for Wilfrid Hodges. He's my favorite. If I am looking for exposition on a topic, I try to find something by Hodges first. He's knowledgeable and hysterical and will tell you lots of little useful things that most books won't mention. If you try his model theory book but don't feel ready for it, he wrote a little gem of a logic book, Logic. – 2012-06-23
These notes by Stefan Geschke have been extremely helpful to me. I currently taking the course these notes are based on and often I find the exposition (and the proofs) here much more illuminating than Marker's text. The goal of these notes is to prove Morley's Categoricity Theorem. If one is already using a tradional text, such as Marker, these notes are at least a very good companion to Marker.
I found these notes by Stephen Simpson very useful.
Fundamentals of Model Theory by Weiss and D'Mello is available for free download.
Model Theory by Marker is quite good and has modern exposition. Sometimes he skips very basic stuff which might leave some questionmarks to a careful reader without background. He also does not cover Ultraproducts at all so if you are interested in that something else might be better suited. It took me longer to grasp proofs then e.g. in Chang and Keisler.
Chang and Keisler also covers ultraproducts and covers a lot of stuff. I don't like the way it is sectioned though. There Marker is better iny opinion. I like the way it is written.
Model Theory by Hodges is my favorite. I like his style of writkng it is maybe also the most complete of the three? This is also a downside as it might be too much at first and it might be better to get an overvew at first. I have to admit that I mainly use it for reference.
When I study I usually read Marker at first and then use the other two if I have problems with his presentation or need more details.