Ernest Nagel an Rudolf Carnap, 17. Juli 1935 Juli 1935

Dear Professor and Mrs. Carnap‚

This is just a brief note to tell you that I am leaving London Saturday, and that if you should write me again to please address me either c/0 American Express Co., Rue Scribe, Paris, or to Columbia UniversityIColumbia University, New York NY in New York.

Both EdithPNagel, Edith, geb. Haggstrom, verh. mit Ernest Nagel and I have enjoyed our stay in London very much, primarily because we met some very interesting people. As I think I wrote you, there was a meeting of the Joint Session of the MindI and Aristotelian SocietiesI at Bedford CollegeIBedford College last week, and among others I got to know Max BlackPBlack, Max, 1909–1988, brit.-am. Philosoph and AyerPAyer, Alfred Jules, 1910–1989, brit. Philosoph. I was very favorably impressed with both of them, and I wish I could have got to know them better than I did; unfortunately, both of them had to leave London shortly after the conference. We have also been seeing Miss StebbingPStebbing, Susan, 1885–1943, brit. Philosophin as often as her schedule of work will permit, and have lost to her completely whatever portion of our hearts we have not previously given away. She is really a remarkable woman, and it is a great pity that so much of her time has to be given to routine matters. Through Miss StebbingPStebbing, Susan, 1885–1943, brit. Philosophin I met Dr. O. HelmerPHelmer, Olaf, 1910–2011, dt.-am. Mathematiker und Philosoph, verh. mit Eileen Helmer, danach mit Helen Mary Helmer, a friend of HempelPHempel, Carl Gustav, 1905–1997, dt.-am. Philosoph, verh. mit Eva Hempel, ab 1947 mit Diane Hempel “aus Berliner Zeiten”, and spent an interesting afternoon discussing various points in your SyntaxB1934@Logische Syntax der Sprache, Wien, 1934.

I had expected to meet Dr. WoodgerPWoodger, Joseph Henry, 1894–1981, Sok[c]rates genannt, brit. Biologe und Philosoph, verh. mit Eden Woodger at the Joint SessionI, but for some reason he didn’t appear. I wrote him afterwards, and have arranged to meet him Friday. But as you see, I will hardly have a chance to get to know him.

The Joint SessionI was very much better than I had dared to hope, especially one meeting devoted to the problem of “internal relations”; it was symposium in which RylePRyle, Gilbert, 1900–1976, brit. Philosoph, AyerPAyer, Alfred Jules, 1910–1989, brit. Philosoph, and MoorePMoore, George Edward, 1873–1958, brit. Philosoph took part, and was very exciting indeed. AyerPAyer, Alfred Jules, 1910–1989, brit. Philosoph wrote a brilliant paper in which he employed your distinction between material and formal mode of speech with great success. But I imagine he will send you a reprint of his paper, so that I do not have to give you a necessarily distorted account of it.

I have read Hempel’sPHempel, Carl Gustav, 1905–1997, dt.-am. Philosoph, verh. mit Eva Hempel, ab 1947 mit Diane Hempel replyBHempel, Carl Gustav!1935@„On the Logical Positivists’ Theory of Truth“, Analysis 2, 1935, 49–59 to SchlickPSchlick, Moritz, 1882–1936, dt.-öst. Philosoph, verh. mit Blanche Guy Schlick with great interest and delight. He seems to me to have made the matter very clear, and I do not see what there remains for SchlickPSchlick, Moritz, 1882–1936, dt.-öst. Philosoph, verh. mit Blanche Guy Schlick except to be convinced of his errors.

I regret more than ever that I cannot attend the Paris CongressIKongressfuerEinheit@1. Kongreß für Einheit der Wissenschaft/Congrès International de Philosophie Scientifique, Paris, 16.-21.IX.1935 next September. I feel rather sad on the eve of our 🕮 departure for New York that I have not been able to see both of you again. I am counting on making up for some lost opportunities at HarvardIHarvard University, Cambridge MA next year, and meanwhile hope that you will write me occasionally. If I can be of any service to you, please let me know, for it will be a delight to me to be of some aid to you. And if you cannot find anyone better fitted for the task, you can count on me to help in the revision of the translation of the SyntaxB1937@The Logical Syntax of Language, London, 1937.

With warmest regards to you both, from EdithPNagel, Edith, geb. Haggstrom, verh. mit Ernest Nagel and myself, and with my profound esteem‚

Yours always‚
Ernest Nagel

P.S. If you can spare a reprint of your “Les concepts psychologiques”B1935@„Les Concepts psychologiques et les concepts physiques sont-ils foncièrement différent?“ Trad. par Robert Bouvier, Revue de synthèse 10 (1), 1935, 43–53 in the Revue de SyntheseIRevue de Synthése could you send me a copy? Auf Wiedersehen!

Brief, msl., 2 Seiten, RC 029-05-04; Briefkopf: msl. London, July 17, 1935.


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