In Memoriam: John W. Addison, my PhD advisor
5 hours ago
- #Logic
- #UC Berkeley
- #John Addison
- John Addison, a renowned professor at UC Berkeley, passed away in 2025 at the age of 96.
- The author, a former PhD student of Addison, recalls being captivated by his logic course and considers him the best instructor they ever had.
- Addison's teaching style was precise, with elegant notational conventions that the author still follows in their own work.
- Despite lacking prior logic knowledge, the author excelled in Addison's model theory-focused course, tying for the top mark.
- Addison's exams were challenging and included humorous elements, such as the classic 'This statement is false' question.
- Addison played a pivotal role in the author's PhD research, suggesting key readings and offering crucial technical advice.
- The author's dissertation on the order type of Borel sets was heavily influenced by Addison's guidance and ran to 350 pages.
- Addison was generous with his time, engaging in lengthy discussions and introducing the author to prominent logicians like Tarski, Kleene, and Church.
- The author transitioned to computer science but frequently applied Addison's teachings, such as in designing the dataflow language Lucid.
- Addison's influence persists in the author's academic life, from small writing tips to profound insights about infinite objects.
- The author strives to emulate Addison's mentorship, emphasizing generosity, high standards, and respect for students.