Thank you very much for your letter of Jan. 5th. I am returning the letter of Professor CossPCoss, Prof.; well, the chance seems to be very little, but our whole America-plan is based on such little chances.
So far no answer from the Institute of Int. EducationIInstitute of International Education, New York whether they accept the arrangement for Carnap’s lecture-tour.
Take our thanks also for your telling to your friend, Prof. HookPHook, Sidney, 1902–1989, am. Philosoph, verh. mit Ann Hook, about CarnapPCarnap, Rudolf, 1891-1970, dt.-am. Philosoph, 1917-1929 verh. mit Elisabeth Carnap und ab 1933 mit Ina Carnap our thanks. Though the chance of a longer stay there is very little, CarnapPCarnap, Rudolf, 1891-1970, dt.-am. Philosoph, 1917-1929 verh. mit Elisabeth Carnap und ab 1933 mit Ina Carnap is glad that H[ook]PHook, Sidney, 1902–1989, am. Philosoph, verh. mit Ann Hook knows about him and is also grateful for the advice not to show to apparently that he is a “Cultur Bolshevist”. But it seems not necessary to replace the lecture-title on the relation between contemporary philosophy and culture by an other, because Carnap may speak about anything under this vague title.
We had six fine days in the mountains; it was a real refreshment for body and soul (even if there is no soul). Perhaps we shall go once more in February for some days.
Your reasons for a marriage in hurry are not very illuminating to me. Or better, I think you could go around the difficulties in a better way. I do not think, that hotels really ask whether you are married or not, I do not think, they trouble about. I remember, when the Hempel’sPHempel, Carl Gustav, 1905–1997, dt.-am. Philosoph, verh. mit Eva Hempel, ab 1947 mit Diane HempelPHempel, Eva, 1908–1944, geb. Ahrends, verh. mit Carl Gustav Hempel [sic] came to Prague for the CongressIInternationaler Kongress für Philosophie@8. Internationaler Kongress für Philosophie, Prag, 2.-7.IX.1934, I took the room for them and asked the proprietor of the hotel, whether there are difficulties for getting one room, if people are not married. And he laughed very much about this idea, saying that he has no moral-control over his guests. But it might be, that in Italy or France you have such difficulties. Why then not shorten your stay in these moral countries and return to more hospitable fields? Sometimes you can avoid the difficulties by taking a private-room, not in a hotel. In England, no hotel will ask for your passport (and besides that, two single rooms are not more expensive than one with two beds). In Tyrol – where we hope to meet you – you will not be asked for your passport. And finally Czechoslovakia is a place, where you may live quite untroubled. If you do not marry in USA there is another difficulty (besides that they ask for a longer residence): you have to pay a lot for the translation of your papers; and there are much more papers necessary than you can ever dream! There are also difficulties if you and EdithPNagel, Edith, geb. Haggstrom, verh. mit Ernest Nagel have different religious confessions. When we married, CarnapPCarnap, Rudolf, 1891-1970, dt.-am. Philosoph, 1917-1929 verh. mit Elisabeth Carnap und ab 1933 mit Ina Carnap without any c[onfession], and I was still a Roman-Catholic. And I could not marry him before I left the Church. The rules are different in the countries. But I expect, it will be horrid everywhere.
CarnapPCarnap, Rudolf, 1891-1970, dt.-am. Philosoph, 1917-1929 verh. mit Elisabeth Carnap und ab 1933 mit Ina Carnap thinks {also}, that PopperPPopper, Karl Raimund, 1902–1994, öst.-brit. Philosoph, verh. mit Josefine Popper overestimates the differences between his point of view and the positivistic position 🕮 in order to accent his own position, and that he is ein einsamer und selbständiger Denker. This seems quite unnecessary, because he has quiet enough own ideas, distinguishing und [sic] marking his standpoint. And it is quite stupid, because he would have more success under the banners of the Wiener KreisISchlick-Zirkel, Wiener Kreis, quite well known and discussed now. And in fact his ideas are of the same kind as those of the positivists, he fights against.
If we would have known before, that the picture where you and CarnapPCarnap, Rudolf, 1891-1970, dt.-am. Philosoph, 1917-1929 verh. mit Elisabeth Carnap und ab 1933 mit Ina Carnap had come on one film, would be an occasion for you of digging up your inferiority-complexes, we would never have sent it!
CarnapPCarnap, Rudolf, 1891-1970, dt.-am. Philosoph, 1917-1929 verh. mit Elisabeth Carnap und ab 1933 mit Ina Carnap was very interested to hear your impression about the Schlick-meetingISchlick-Zirkel, Wiener Kreis. And we are looking forward to your report about the new manifestation of WittgensteinPWittgenstein, Ludwig, 1889–1951, öst.-brit. Philosoph.
I am addressing this letter to Vienna but I am hoping, that you are far away in a French sea-port, holding your lady in your arms!
With warm greetings from us both‚
