Wilfrid Hodges
Encyclopedia
Wilfrid Augustine Hodges (born May 27, 1941) is a British
mathematician
, known for his work in model theory
. He was Professor of Mathematics at Queen Mary, University of London
from 1987 to 2006, and is the author of numerous books on logic
.
He attended New College, Oxford
(1959-65), where he received degrees in both Literae Humaniores
and (Christianic) Theology
. In 1970 he was awarded a doctorate for a thesis in Logic
. He lectured in both Philosophy
and Mathematics
at Bedford College, University of London. He has held visiting appointments in the department of philosophy at the University of California
and in the department of mathematics at University of Colorado
.
He was President of the British Logic Colloquium and of the European Association for Logic, Language and Information
.
In 2009 he was elected a Fellow of the British Academy
.
Wilfrid Hodges' books are written in an informal style. The "Notes on Notation" in his book "Model theory" end with the following characteristic sentence:
When this 780-page book appeared in 1993, it quickly became one of the standard textbooks on model theory
. Due to its success an abbreviated version (but with a new chapter on stability theory) was published as a paperback.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
, known for his work in model theory
Model theory
In mathematics, model theory is the study of mathematical structures using tools from mathematical logic....
. He was Professor of Mathematics at Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
from 1987 to 2006, and is the author of numerous books on logic
Logic
In philosophy, Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning. Logic is used in most intellectual activities, but is studied primarily in the disciplines of philosophy, mathematics, semantics, and computer science...
.
He attended New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
(1959-65), where he received degrees in both Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores is the name given to an undergraduate course focused on Classics at Oxford and some other universities.The Latin name means literally "more humane letters", but is perhaps better rendered as "Advanced Studies", since humaniores has the sense of "more refined" or "more learned",...
and (Christianic) Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
. In 1970 he was awarded a doctorate for a thesis in Logic
Logic
In philosophy, Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning. Logic is used in most intellectual activities, but is studied primarily in the disciplines of philosophy, mathematics, semantics, and computer science...
. He lectured in both Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
at Bedford College, University of London. He has held visiting appointments in the department of philosophy at the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
and in the department of mathematics at University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
.
He was President of the British Logic Colloquium and of the European Association for Logic, Language and Information
Association for Logic, Language and Information
The Association for Logic, Language and Information is an international, especially European, learned society administered from Nancy-Université in France...
.
In 2009 he was elected a Fellow of the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
.
Wilfrid Hodges' books are written in an informal style. The "Notes on Notation" in his book "Model theory" end with the following characteristic sentence:
- 'I' means I, 'we' means we.
When this 780-page book appeared in 1993, it quickly became one of the standard textbooks on model theory
Model theory
In mathematics, model theory is the study of mathematical structures using tools from mathematical logic....
. Due to its success an abbreviated version (but with a new chapter on stability theory) was published as a paperback.