Congratulations to having merrily married MaryPNeurath, Marie, 1898–1986, geb. Reidemeister, auch Reidemeisterin, Mieze, MR, Mary, dt.-brit. Pädagogin und Sozialwiss., Schwester von Kurt Reidemeister, heiratete 1941 Otto Neurath! We were very glad to hear about your new life, and about your optimism and courage.
Our year here at HarvardIHarvard University, Cambridge MA is nearly over (you had better send letters from now on to Chicago for forwarding). It has been a pleasant experience, the students being rather more sophisticated than the ones in Chicago, and an interested “Science of Science” group consisting of members of various departments who were interested in our problems. About the philosophers there is not much to say, they were very friendly toward me personally but not much in the way of discussions happened, except with QuinePQuine, Willard Van Orman, 1908–2000, am. Philosoph with whom I discussed frequently (together with TarskiPTarski, Alfred, 1901–1983, poln.-am. Mathematiker und Logiker). FrankPFrank, Philipp, 1884–1966, öst.-am. Physiker und Philosoph, verh. mit Hania Frank, Bruder von Josef Frank has had a half-time job at HarvardPHarvard University, Cambridge MA for the past year and expects that this appointment will be renewed for the coming year (in addition he has an invitation from New York City CollegeICCNY, City College of New York, New York NY to lecture there the other half year). TarskiPTarski, Alfred, 1901–1983, poln.-am. Mathematiker und Logiker has received a Guggenheim fellowship for the coming year – his wife and children are still in Poland. ZilselPZilsel, Edgar, 1891–1944, öst.-am. Philosoph und Soziologe has been living on a grant for the past two years – his wife has had repeated nervous breakdowns and probably would be better off in an institution – or at least he probably would be better off with her in an institution. I have heard that he is rather depressed about it all, and he also seems to have difficulties in adapting himself. It is getting harder and harder to find academic positions in this country. Not even KelsenPKelsen, Hans, 1881–1973, öst.-am. Rechtswiss. has found an appointment. One of the many reasons for this increasing difficulty is the cutting down of teaching personnel because of the reduced student enrolment due to conscription. The Harvard budget e. g. has been cut 10 % and since they intend not to cut salaries, it results in not filling vacancies, appointing less tutors and instructors. This is also one of the many reasons why it seems impossible to find something for StraussPStrauss, Martin, 1907–1978, dt.-brit. Physiker und Philosoph, verh. mit Anna Strauss particularly as long as he is not in this country. If he were here, probably an organization could be induced to assist him financially, but overburdened as they are, they will in no case assume the responsibility to do so for someone who is not already here. You will have heard of the JohnsonPJohnson, Alvin Saunders, 1874–1971, am. Ökonom Action under which – with RockefellerIRockefeller Foundation money – a number of refugee scientists have been called over. KaufmannPKaufmann, Felix, 1895–1949, öst.-am. Philosoph and I (together with MorrisPMorris, Charles W., 1901–1979, am. Philosoph, verh. mit Trude Morris and other friends) have done all we could to get you, WaismannPWaismann, Friedrich, 1896–1959, öst.-brit. Philosoph, verh. mit Hermine Waismann, JørgensenPJörgensen, Jörgen@Jørgensen, Jørgen, 1894–1969, dän. Philosoph and a few Poles here under this scheme but no result whatsoever. My recommendation for JørgensenPJörgensen, Jörgen@Jørgensen, Jørgen, 1894–1969, dän. Philosoph has been refused because he still has a post, Waismann’sPWaismann, Friedrich, 1896–1959, öst.-brit. Philosoph, verh. mit Hermine Waismann case – I believe – is still pending; my recommendation also has been refused at first with the reasoning that he has a post; I have tried to argue that his position is not really a “post” but only a stipend etc. (though I actually do not know the particulars of his appointment) and have never heard about the final 🕮{}outcome. Will you, when you meet him, tell him about this stand of the matter? KotarbińskiPKotarbiński, Tadeusz, 1886–1981, poln. Philosoph actually got an appointment but refused to come – I believe because he has an old father in Poland whom he did not wish to leave. For the younger Poles – LutmanPKokoszynska@Kokoszyńska-Lutman, Maria, 1905–1981, poln. Logikerin, HosiassonPHosiasson-Lindenbaum, Janina, 1899–1942, poln. Logikerin, verh. mit Adolf Lindenbaum– nothing could be done. I have not understood the principle of selection of the RockefellerIRockefeller Foundation + JohnsonPJohnson, Alvin Saunders, 1874–1971, am. Ökonom people but it seems fairly clear that on the one hand they want very well known names and on the other hand pull has an influence and not necessarily does scholarly merit speak the final word (at least that is the explanation I am inclined to give to the appointment of RougierPRougier, Louis, 1889–1982, fr. Philosoph1Rougier unterrichtete in dieser Zeit an der New School for Social Research, kollaborierte gleichzeitig aber mit dem Vichy-Regime. Vgl. ??? who is already here). But unfortunately it is not the sort of pull people like MorrisPMorris, Charles W., 1901–1979, am. Philosoph, verh. mit Trude Morris, NagelPNagel, Ernest, 1901–1985, am. Philosoph, verh. mit Edith Nagel and I are able to bring to bear. Pepi FrankPFrank, Josef, 1885–1967, öst.-schwed. Architekt has received an appointment – independent of the JohnsonPJohnson, Alvin Saunders, 1874–1971, am. Ökonom Action – to the New SchoolI, HanjaPFrank, Hania, 1894–1967, geb. Gerson, verh. mit Philipp Frank managed it in some way and he will come if he can secure passage. What happened with your own case I am not sure – I only know that the RockefellerIRockefeller Foundation people (or somewhere else in the machinery) said no. Probably you have already better information from someone better informed. I am very sorry about it, because I think you should come and settle here. We all need you, and so does the LibraryILibrary of Unified Science, the EncyclopediaIFoundations of the Unity of Science& the JournalIJournal of Unified ScienceaHsl. Einschub.. By the way: it is not that I did not want to have my “Semantics”B published in our Library. I offered it to the University of Chicago PressIUniversity of Chicago Press in the hope that the LibraryILibrary of Unified Science would be continued there and that my bookB could appear as one of its volumes. As I wrote you, the PressIUniversity of Chicago Press demanded a subsidy about equalling their out of pocket costs. In the meantime a new development has occurred: the Dept. of Philosophy here has allowed me a grant toward the publication provided the book will appear at the Harvard University PressIHarvard University Press (the Press here also had demanded such a subsidy), and I am now negotiating with the Harvard PressIHarvard University Press about the publication. I do not think your idea about having it published in England is quite realistic. To send a manuscript there in these uncertain times seems to me inappropriate. And though I do not doubt your talents for finding a publisher there, I do not see any advantage in having it printed there. When we considered publication in Holland, one of the good reasons was that the printing costs would have been cheaper there than here. But printing in England would not be cheaper, and the fate of the manuscript and of the shipping of the books would be too uncertain. I also do not think that the English public at the time being would be interested in such highly technical material and that nearly all of the sales would be here. – I have urged FrankPFrank, Philipp, 1884–1966, öst.-am. Physiker und Philosoph, verh. mit Hania Frank, Bruder von Josef Frank again and again to write his encyclopediaIFoundations of the Unity of Science contributionBFrank, Philipp!1946@„Foundations of Physics“, Foundations of the Unity of Science 1 (7), 1946, 423–504 and each time he promises it for “in two months”. – I am sending you the yellow pamphletBVerein Ernst Mach!1929@Wissenschaftliche Weltauffassung. Der Wiener Kreis, Wien, 1929 and a number of reprints which I happen to have here – most of my things are in Chicago in storage and I cannot get them before we are back in Chicago. Your “Empirische Soziologie”BNeurath, Otto!1931@Empirische Soziologie. Der wissenschaftliche Gehalt der Geschichte und Nationalökonomie, Wien, 1931 unfortunately has disappeared from my shelves and I do not know who has it – I shall ask all suspects. – GrellingPGrelling, Kurt, 1886–1942, dt. Philosoph has a possibility to come provided he can find passage; RockefellersIRockefeller Foundation refused his case also, but now were willing to invite him nominally, i. e. OppenheimPOppenheim, Paul, 1885–1977, dt.-am. Industrieller und Philosoph, verh. mit Gabrielle Oppenheim having promised them to finance their invitation (the invitation from them for the purpose of a non-quota visa); GrellingPGrelling, Kurt, 1886–1942, dt. Philosoph still is in a concentration camp – but probably HempelsPHempel, Carl Gustav, 1905–1997, dt.-am. Philosoph, verh. mit Eva HempelPHempel, Eva, 1908–1944, geb. Ahrends, verh. mit Carl Gustav Hempel have written you about this already. – A reprint of my “Testability”B1936@„Testability and Meaning“, Philosophy of Science 3 (4), 1936, 419–471 und 4 (1), 1937, 1–40 I have sent you on November 11th via StebbingPStebbing, Susan, 1885–1943, brit. Philosophin– I hope it has arrived safely, since it was one of my last copies.
Please forward the enclosed letter to HollitscherPHollitscher, Walter, 1911–1986, öst.-dt. Philosoph after reading it.
All our love to Mieze and you,
