# Neurath an Carnap, Oxford, 28. September 1945 Otto Neurath an Rudolf Carnap, 28. September 1945 September 1945

My dear friend Carnap‚

Good InaP Carnap, Ina (eig. Elisabeth Maria immacul[ata] Ignatia), 1904–1964, geb. Stöger, heiratete 1933 Rudolf Carnap told me, that my remarks very often put your meditation into motion and even touches your sleeping capacity. I learn from that, that a friend’s remarks are taken seriously by you – but please do nota Hsl. Einschub. think that I behave differently. Your letters ask me to search my behaviour and life and to try to alter it. As I told you, well knowing the slight persecution mania very frequent in scholars, I try to fight any nucleus of such a behaviour in me.

Therefore I assumed, of course, that perhaps my remark, that SchlickP Schlick, Moritz, 1882–1936, dt.-öst. Philosoph, verh. mit Blanche Guy Schlick behaved in a humiliating way, could be overstated and that I should look at something he said, as a criticism and myself as too sensitive …I tried to remember Schlick’sP Schlick, Moritz, 1882–1936, dt.-öst. Philosoph, verh. mit Blanche Guy Schlick behaviour in our talks – FrankP Frank, Philipp, 1884–1966, öst.-am. Physiker und Philosoph, verh. mit Hania Frank, Bruder von Josef Frank as witness – his behaviour in the circle etc., and I could not discover any case in which I fought criticism, always cases in which I fought arrogance and an attitude humilitating me, but, as you know, we should be very careful, where we are witnesses about ourselves. But I remembered, that I have the French text of SchlickP Schlick, Moritz, 1882–1936, dt.-öst. Philosoph, verh. mit Blanche Guy Schlick’s remarks on me. I ask you and InaP Carnap, Ina (eig. Elisabeth Maria immacul[ata] Ignatia), 1904–1964, geb. Stöger, heiratete 1933 Rudolf Carnap, whether you think this kind of talking has to be regarded as “criticism proper”. I think criticism involves that giving “names” is not proper criticism, WHEN WITHOUT EXPLAINING THE REASON. I think adding esthetical judgement is usually not just criticism – it tells about the person’s biography, not about the work in question. But please, look at the following quotations: (from our department in the IXth International Congress of Philosophy, 1937, IV. L’ÉCOLE DE VIENNE ET LA PHILOSOPHIE TRADITIONELLE. “Certains d’entre eux ont même une antipathie marquée contre le mot ‘philosophie’ (as if it where some whim, not explained in detail) qu’ils veulent 🕮{}proscrire au bénéfice d’autres termesb terms tels que ‘science unitaire’, par où ils entendent se considérer eux-mêmes, non comme des philosophes, mais comme des chercheurs scientifiques …” etc.

And then:

“Ce que l’homme fait par peur produit presque toujours un effet ridicule (please, look into my writings, whether I am using such terms, even when objecting other people’s opinions). Ce n’est donc pas étonnant si tel anti-métaphysicien propose par exemplec examplelui-même, dont nous avons déjà parlé. C’est vraiment une drôle d’idée (Do you think this is a word of scholarly criticism? I should take even that, if combined with real analysis and criticism. I started this language business as a student, considerably influenced by ItelsonP Itelson, Gregorius, 1852–1926, russ.-dt. Philosoph und Logiker, and my contact with you and other people is partly based on the fact, that we agree about certain main points. What a strange situation, that SchlickP Schlick, Moritz, 1882–1936, dt.-öst. Philosoph, verh. mit Blanche Guy Schlick fights for the “soul” …oh my dear. But I should not mind his OBJECTIONS, if he did mention at least one, but he only tries, without telling my name – NICHT GENANNT SOLL ER WERDEN –, to make me a laughing-stock. Some crazy crank – that is all) que de vouloir conduire les hommes à la vérité en leur faisant peur de certains mots. Etc.” And then the estheticist has the word, fortunately in vain, because the translator dropped “Einheitswissenschaft” = “Einheizwissenschaft” “… le remplaçantd Original replacement. par des expressions sans couleur et peu esthétiques telles que ‘science unitaire’. Cette attitude me paraît reposer sur un profond malentendu.” JUST “malentendu” – HE DIXIT … Boy, boy, rereading this I believe in Otto Neurath in 🕮{}the witness box, when telling that SCHLICKP Schlick, Moritz, 1882–1936, dt.-öst. Philosoph, verh. mit Blanche Guy Schlick liked to humiliate Otto Neurath, not even thinking him as sufficiently equal that one has to explain the objections; the grand spirit gives names – how simple. And I cannot see, that you or FeiglP Feigl, Herbert, 1902–1988, öst.-am. Philosoph, seit 1931 verh. mit Maria Feigl or any other of Schlick’sP Schlick, Moritz, 1882–1936, dt.-öst. Philosoph, verh. mit Blanche Guy Schlick friends ever tried to give me a kind of satisfaction, by mentioning, that SchlickP Schlick, Moritz, 1882–1936, dt.-öst. Philosoph, verh. mit Blanche Guy Schlick’s way of criticism does not give sufficient credit to Neurath’s hard work, – acceptable or unacceptable, that is another question – who tried for about 40 and more years to alter his own language carefully, thinking seriously of this matter and explaining again and again, why dropping “soul” etc. Not because it is his whim, explaining in detail, why what we are striving for is an EINHEITSWISSENSCHAFT, – perhaps with some unacceptable details, about which we may start discussion. But how can you discuss with libel-like remarks without reasons?

You see, this very often presses me in a position to tell of my own work, because others sometimes go too far – as far as I can see – in deteriorating my whole work and sometimes humiliating me. I am for peaceful contacts, BUT I AM NOT PREPARED TO SWALLOW HUMILIATION. Really not. But I am wholly prepared to learn, that what I think an unproper behaviour of other people is just the usual thing. Question: DO YOU THINK THAT THIS WAY OF SCHLICKP Schlick, Moritz, 1882–1936, dt.-öst. Philosoph, verh. mit Blanche Guy Schlick TO TELL INTERNATIONAL READERS ABOUT MY POSITION WITHIN OUR MOVEMENT SHOULD BE CALLED PROPER?a Ksl. Schlicks Formulierungen in dem französischen Vortrag sind in 1 oder 2 stellen nicht ganz guter Geschmack; aber Dein Urteil über sie scheint mir sehr übertrieben. In üblichen philosophischen Diskussionen gibt es eine große Zahl von viel schlimmeren Verstößen..

I know DE MORTUIS NIL NISI BENE– but that seems to be only valid, when writing necrologiese necrologs… And another quotation (from GoetheP Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, 1749–1832, dt. Dichter) Man sagt Eigenlob stinkt, was aber ungerechter Tadel für einen Geruch hat, darnach fragen die Leute nicht (I quote from memory).

That is that. I am looking forward to a very kind, very nice, very illuminating couple of letters from both of you,

ever yours

Brief, msl., 3 Seiten (kleines Format), RC 102-55-12 (Dsl. ON 223); Briefkopf: gedr. Otto Neurath, Dr. Phil.\,/\,Secretary, Isotype Institute, gestempelt 194 Divinity Road\,/\,Oxford, gedr. und hsl. gestrichen 30 Dickerton Road\,/\,Headington, Oxford, msl. 28th Sept. 45, ksl. bekommen 12.10.; statt schriftlicher Signatur grob skizzierte Zeichnung eines Tieres.

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