This book applies model theoretic methods to the study of certain finite permutation groups, the automorphism groups of structures for a fixed finite language with a bounded number of orbits on 4-tuples. Primitive permutation groups of this type have been classified by Kantor, Liebeck, and Macpherson, using the classification of the finite simple groups. Building on this work, Gregory Cherlin and Ehud Hrushovski here treat the general case by developing analogs of the model theoretic methods of geometric stability theory. The work lies at the juncture of permutation group theory, model theory, classical geometries, and combinatorics. The principal results are finite theorems, an associated analysis of computational issues, and an "intrinsic" characterization of the permutation groups (or finite structures) under consideration. The main finiteness theorem shows that the structures under consideration fall naturally into finitely many families, with each family parametrized by finitely many numerical invariants (dimensions of associated coordinating geometries). The authors provide a case study in the extension of methods of stable model theory to a nonstable context, related to work on Shelah's "simple theories." They also generalize Lachlan's results on stable homogeneous structures for finite relational languages, solving problems of effectivity left open by that case. Their methods involve the analysis of groups interpretable in these structures, an analog of Zilber's envelopes, and the combinatorics of the underlying geometries. Taking geometric stability theory into new territory, this book is for mathematicians interested in model theory and group theory.

This volume contains the accounts of papers delivered at the Nato Advanced Study Institute on Finite and Infinite Combinatorics in Sets and Logic held at the Banff Centre, Alberta, Canada from April 21 to May 4, 1991. As the title suggests the meeting brought together workers interested in the interplay between finite and infinite combinatorics, set theory, graph theory and logic. It used to be that infinite set theory, finite combinatorics and logic could be viewed as quite separate and independent subjects. But more and more those disciplines grow together and become interdependent of each other with ever more problems and results appearing which concern all of those disciplines. I appreciate the financial support which was provided by the N. A. T. O. Advanced Study Institute programme, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics of the University of Calgary. 11l'te meeting on Finite and Infinite Combinatorics in Sets and Logic followed two other meetings on discrete mathematics held in Banff, the Symposium on Ordered Sets in 1981 and the Symposium on Graphs and Order in 1984. The growing inter-relation between the different areas in discrete mathematics is maybe best illustrated by the fact that many of the participants who were present at the previous meetings also attended this meeting on Finite and Infinite Combinatorics in Sets and Logic.

Surveys of current research in logical aspects of computer science that apply finite and infinite model-theoretic methods.

Recent major advances in model theory include connections between model theory and Diophantine and real analytic geometry, permutation groups, and finite algebras. The present book contains lectures on recent results in algebraic model theory, covering topics from the following areas: geometric model theory, the model theory of analytic structures, permutation groups in model theory, the spectra of countable theories, and the structure of finite algebras. Audience: Graduate students in logic and others wishing to keep abreast of current trends in model theory. The lectures contain sufficient introductory material to be able to grasp the recent results presented.

Second of two volumes providing a comprehensive guide to the current state of mathematical logic.

Contains the proceedings of the conference Groups and Model Theory, held 2011, in Ruhr, Germany. Articles cover abelian groups, modules over commutative rings, permutation groups, automorphism groups of homogeneous structures such as graphs, relational structures, geometries, topological spaces or groups, consequences of model theoretic properties like stability or categoricity, subgroups of small index, the automorphism tower problem, as well as random constructions.