# Rudolf Carnap an W.V.O. Quine, 06. Jänner 1934 Jänner 1934

Dear Mrs. and Mr. Quine‚

We try to write to you in English, preparing for our journey to America. But this does not mean, that we shall come soon. We have not yet any answer from the Rockefeller FoundationI Rockefeller Foundation, nor has been anybody from the F[oundation]I Rockefeller Foundation in Prague. Many thanks for your intervention in this case at WhiteheadP Whitehead, Alfred North, 1861–1947, brit.-am. Philosoph and ShefferP Sheffer, Henry Maurice, 1882–1964, am. Philosoph! We heard also from Bertrand RussellP Russell, Bertrand, 1872–1970, brit. Philosoph, in zweiter Ehe verh. mit Dora Russell, ab 1936 verh. mit Patricia Russell, J. von NeumannP Neumann, John (Johann) von, 1903–1957, ung.-am. Mathematiker– Princeton, Marcel BollP Boll, Marcel, 1886–1971, fr. Physiker und Philosoph– Paris, Louis RougierP Rougier, Louis, 1889–1982, fr. Philosoph– Paris, Eino KailaP Kaila, Eino, 1890–1958, finn. Philosoph– Helsingfors, that they wrote in my favour to the FoundationI Rockefeller Foundation. Since we have heard not yet anything, it seems quite impossible to get the Fellowship for this February. Now we hope for the fall. Yesterday we wrote to the F[oundation]I Rockefeller Foundation asking, what their opinion is about my chance. When we have answer, we shall write.

The “Logische Syntax der Sprache”B 1934@Logische Syntax der Sprache, Wien, 1934 has gone to the publisher in the middle of December. There has been added a “General Syntax” and many new details; therefore it lasted so long time. I hope, you will like it in this new form.

I am pleased, that your friend CooleyP Cooley, John C., am. Philosoph is working about my ideas. But it is a pity, that CooleyP Cooley, John C., am. Philosoph has not seen the “Syntax”B 1934@Logische Syntax der Sprache, Wien, 1934. I think my earlier publications surpassed by this new book. But perhaps you have told to your friend about the new ideas too.

The treatise about “Die physikalische Sprache als Universalsprache der Wissenschaft”B 1931@„Die physikalische Sprache als Universalsprache der Wissenschaft“, Erkenntnis 2, 1931, 423–465 will come out in English as volume of the “Psyche Miniatures”I Psyche Miniatures, translated by M. BlackP Black, Max, 1909–1988, brit.-am. Philosoph. You know, the “Psyche”I Psyche, Zeitschrift is edited by C. K. OgdenP Ogden, Charles Kay, 1889–1957, brit. Linguist und Philosoph, who also edits 🕮 the “International Library”I. By the occasion of this translation I got nearer contact with OgdenP Ogden, Charles Kay, 1889–1957, brit. Linguist und Philosoph, and OgdenP Ogden, Charles Kay, 1889–1957, brit. Linguist und Philosoph sent me a lot of his publications; the most are about Basic English (volumes of the “Psyche Miniatures”I Psyche Miniatures), one about BenthamP Bentham, Jeremy, 1748–1832, brit. Philosoph, and one is called “The Meaning of Meaning”B. OgdenP Ogden, Charles Kay, 1889–1957, brit. Linguist und Philosoph and his staff (it seems that he has a sort of institute, called “Orthological Institute”I Orthological Institute, C.K. Ogden) have interesting ideas about language; but they are more based on commonsense than on subtle knowledge of logic. Do you know anything about Basic English? I was occupied all the holydays by this books, and I dream even in English.

Have you seen the new periodical “Philosophy of Science”I Philosophy of Science, Zeitschrift? I am glad, that really this baby has been born and I hope for good growth. And what do you think about? (Perhaps you found already some mistakes in the translation of my treatise; the passage quoted from HumeP Hume, David, 1711–1776, brit. Philosoph was not the right one.)

How did you spend your summer-holydays? And how do you live now? In which form has realised your stipendium?

Considering our hope to come in the fall to USA, we would be very interested to hear which effect on the prices the Dollar-Baisse has had. We heard, that the Rockefeller F[oundation]I Rockefeller Foundation asks for a proposal of the Fellow, how much he believes to need; therefore it would be good to know, how much we will spent with moderate pretensions. Perhaps Mrs. QuineP Quine, Naomi, 1907–1997, geb. Clayton, 1932–1947 verh. mit Willard Van Orman Quine will be so kind to write about this subject.

Many thanks for your nice Xmas card! We send you in return our best wishes for the New Year!

I am eager to read your bookB Quine, Willard Van Orman!1934@A System of Logistic, Cambridge MA, 1934. When will it appear?

Would you be so kind as to send back one copy of this letter with your corrections, when you write the next time (it is not urgent)? We will do the same, if you send a second copy of your german letters. But I see from your very well 🕮 expressed german letter, that your letters will not be such a red ocean as ours will be.

Your idea of admitting the case, that ‚\(x\)’ does not occur in the operand of ‚\(\hat{x}\)’, is certainly a good one. I also did so with the (propositional) operands in my system. I think quite generally, that a system will become simplier, if such so to speak empty cases are not excluded.

Hearty greetings to you both from my wife and

yours truly
R. Carnap

Brief, msl., 1 Seite, WQ: gestempelt Prof. Dr. Rudolf Carnap  /  Prag XVII.  /  N. Motol, Pod Homolkou, msl. Prague, January, 6, 1934.

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