# Neurath an Carnap, Oxford‚ 20. Juli 1942 Otto Neurath an Rudolf Carnap, 20. Juli 1942 Juli 1942

My dear Carnap‚

one should not write too soon (months means too soon) because something may happen. This morning one of your wonder packages appeared. I think it is the one I mentioned, it contained the French pamphlet on our circle, the Hypothesis System (I needed it very much and could not get it in any library) and many articles and your white pamphlet, white and wise. Many thanks, my boy. I appreciate very much, that you are sacrificing so many reprints etc., that is friendship. I am really happy and pleased. On an average I am astonished how easily I bear the fact that my whole library, all my notes, all my manuscripts, all my reprints, all my belongings are in Hitler’sP Hitler, Adolf, 1889–1945, öst.-dt. Politiker dirty hands, but this lucky quality not to be depressed by a lack of things is not reducing my pleasure to get something, I think there are few things which please me so much (if we do not speak of persons and social events) as books and printed matter, files of material, living life, to thumb over things and to be stimulated by old and new ideas. It is pleasant, too, to rebuild my “memory” my bulk of knowledge. I am reading books, I read as a boy and I am pleased again. In Vienna or at The Hague, I had them in my library giving me the feeling that they are my own …now I bought them and I am rereading them, e. g. Lodge’sP Lodge, Oliver, 1851–1940, brit. Physiker nice arguments on mechanical models of electric currents. Mengenlehre by FraenkelP Fraenkel, Abraham, 1891–1965, dt.-israel. Mathematiker, etc. I always hope I shall find a SchröderP Schröder, Ernst, 1841–1902, dt. Mathematiker und Logiker, I have now a VENNP Venn, John, 1834–1923, brit. Geistlicher und Logiker with his nice ellipses (I had them only in my SchröderP Schröder, Ernst, 1841–1902, dt. Mathematiker und Logiker). Perhaps you can get for me by chance (very improbablea unprobale) JOSEF POPPER-LYNKEUSP Popper-Lynkeus, Josef, 1838–1921, öst. Sozialphilosoph, Allgemeine Nährpflicht. I got Ballod-Atlanticus’P Ballod, Karl, 1864–1931, lett. Ökonom und Statistiker, Pseudonym Atlanticus Zukunftsstaat. I want to have all these planning accounts. MaryP Neurath, Marie, 1898–1986, geb. Reidemeister, auch Reidemeisterin, Mieze, MR, Mary, dt.-brit. Pädagogin und Sozialwiss., Schwester von Kurt Reidemeister, heiratete 1941 Otto Neurath is sitting in the same room, drawing a map of the USA for showing a cross section with the various plants – a nice business. Making charts is a great pleasure, really. And we support the war effort in this way (all this work is used by the Ministry of Information). I feel like a doctor who is fighting the plague. And our delicate tools are useful, too. I hope you will see some of our animated diagrams in USA.

The whole morning I was looking through the prints you have sent me – many thanks. Many thanks.

Now the reports on Russia and Libya are better – but better or worse, in the long run, we shall win the war, I do not doubt, and I did not doubt, as you remember. That does not change the pressure under which we are living, like in former times, when the Black Death was waiting behind the quarantine walls. I prefer a situation in which no Black Death is waiting behind the walls, even if the walls are strong enough. What is with our friends, are they joining the USA army? Who? 🕮

What about the FranksP Frank, Philipp, 1884–1966, öst.-am. Physiker und Philosoph, verh. mit Hania Frank, Bruder von Josef Frank P Frank, Hania, 1894–1967, geb. Gerson, verh. mit Philipp Frank? Males and females. What about other friends, please tell a little more. And do not forget to post copies of your letters, too. My proposal is to write one another even if no answer arrives after some months let me say, three months. That means 4 letters a year – there is a war on.

With kindest regards and many thanks

ever yours
Otto Neurath

Brief, Dsl., 2 Seiten, ON 222; Briefkopf: msl. 20th July, 1942, ohne Signatur.

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