On Theories Having Three Countable Models (Q4393166)

Let \(T\) be a countable complete theory. Is has been conjectured that, if \(T\) has only finitely many (non-isomorphic) countable models, then \(T\) must be unstable. The paper under review examines this conjecture when \(T\) is almost \(\omega\)-categorical, i.e. satisfies the following property: For any types \(p_1(x_1), \dots, p_n(x_n)\) over the empty set, there are only finitely many types (also over \(\emptyset\)) extending \(p_1(x_1) \cup \ldots \cup p_n(x_n)\). Previous work of the second author (and others) implies that, if \(T\) is almost \(\omega\)-categorical and \(T\) has only finitely many countable models, then \(T\) is unstable. Here a stronger result is proved. In fact, it is shown that, if \(T\) satisfies the additional assumption that there are exactly three countable models, then \(T\) even interprets a dense linear ordering.