\brief{Rudolf Carnap an W.V.O. Quine, 06. Jänner 1934}{Jänner 1934}

%Prof. Dr. Rudolf Carnap

%Prag XVII

%N. Motol, Pod Homolkou

%Prague, January 6, 1934

\anrede{Dear Mrs. and Mr. \textit{Quine},}

\haupttext{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 Foundation\II{\rockefellerstiftung}, nor has been anybody from the F[oundation]\II{\rockefellerstiftung} in Prague. Many thanks
for your intervention in this case at Whitehead\IN{\whitehead} and Sheffer\IN{\sheffer}! We heard also from Bertrand Russell\IN{\russell}, J. von
Neumann\IN{\neumannvon} -- Princeton, Marcel Boll\IN{\boll} -- Paris, Louis Rougier\IN{\rougier} -- Paris, Eino Kaila\IN{\kaila} -- Helsingfors, that they wrote in my favour to the
Foundation\II{\rockefellerstiftung}. 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]\II{\rockefellerstiftung} asking, what their opinion is about my chance. When we have answer, we
shall write.

The ``Logische Syntax der Sprache''\IC{\logischesyntax} 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 Cooley\IN{\cooley} is working about my ideas. But it is a pity, that Cooley\IN{\cooley} has not seen the
``Syntax''\IC{\logischesyntax}. 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''\IC{\physikalischesprache} will come out in English as
volume of the ``Psyche Miniatures''\II{\psycheminiatures}, translated by M. Black\IN{\black}. You know, the ``Psyche''\II{\psyche} is edited by C. K. Ogden\IN{\ogden}, who also
edits \neueseite{} the ``International Library''\II{}. By the occasion of this translation I got nearer contact with Ogden\IN{\ogden}, and Ogden\IN{\ogden} sent
me a lot of his publications; the most are about Basic English (volumes of the ``Psyche Miniatures''\II{\psycheminiatures}), one about Bentham\IN{\bentham},
and one is called ``The Meaning of Meaning''\IW{}. Ogden\IN{\ogden} and his staff (it seems that he has a sort of institute, called
``Orthological Institute''\II{\orthologicalinstitute}) 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''\II{\philosophyofscience}? 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 Hume\IN{\hume} 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]\II{\rockefellerstiftung} 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. Quine\IN{\quinefrau} 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 book\IW{\quinebuch}. 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 \neueseite{}
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}

\grussformel{yours truly\\
R. Carnap}

\ebericht{Brief, msl., 1 Seite, \href{https://doi.org/10.48666/854801}{WQ}: gestempelt \original{Prof. Dr. Rudolf Carnap \,/\, Prag XVII. \,/\, N. Motol, Pod Homolkou}, msl. \original{Prague, January, 6, 1934}.}