Modal logic and model theory (Q1080411)

The authors attempt to establish a bridge between first order modal logic and classical model theory by means of a new modal system, QS4E, obtained by adding to the first order modal system QS4 a ''rigidity axiom'' scheme, \(A\to LA\), where A is any basic formula, i.e., an atomic formula or its negation. Theorems of completeness and compactness are proved for QS4E. In the semantics for QS4E, possibility, MA, is interpreted as the possibility of extending a given model to another model in which A holds. This allows the authors to express some important concepts of classical model theory, which cannot be expressed in classical first order logic, e.g. existential completeness and the notion of being infinitely generic; and they can prove some well-known results of classical model theory. Since the model-theoretic concepts can be expressed also in \(L_{\omega_ 1\omega}\), the authors compare the expressive powers of this system and QS4E. Finally, the authors utilize the indicated relationship between modal logic and classical model theory in order to prove some results concerning the rigidity axiom.