Carnap an Neurath, Chicago, 24. Juni 1942 Rudolf Carnap an Otto Neurath, 24. Juni 1942 Juni 1942

Thanks for your letter of March 2. You got two of my parcels with reprints, and I hoped the other three, which I sent to exactly the same address, would also arrive soon. But short time ago I got back two of them, with remark: “Not known. Refused at University Registry, Oxford”. Instead of inquiring a little further, they send them all the way back across the ocean! You said once that a little bit of easy-going inefficiency (“Muddling through”) is quite nice. I am not so sure whether I like it much. On June 5, I sent you once more the two packages, this time to your private address, not to the Institute for Social History. I wonder what happened to the fifth package. And then I sent my book “Semantics” to the Institute address on May 1; perhaps you could inquire there and give them your address.

I shall be free from teaching duties for one year from now on, with the help of the Rockefeller Foundation, for continuing my work in semantics. Is it not remarkable that even in times like these, purely theoretical research is encouraged and supported? A second small book has gone to print and will, I hope, appear in the fall (“Formalization of Logic”). The work in the coming year will be devoted to new problems, among them probability and degree of confirmation. I do not yet know, where we shall be. Letters will always be forwarded.

I do not know whether you got my letter of Jan. 27. Will the Library be continued in spite of paper restrictions? And if so, what would you think of publishing in it my “Introduction to Symbolic Logic” (it has been entirely rewritten; so far one third of it has been translated).

Please write me your son’s address, and tell me if I can do anything for him.

Last year efforts were made to bring GrellingPGrelling, Kurt, 1886–1942, dt. Philosoph to this country. They seemed to develop well but had then to be interrupted because of the war.

I read with great interest Kaplan’sPKaplan, Abraham, 1918–1993, am. Philosoph Dr.-Thesis. It seems the first systematic investigation in pragmatics from the present point of view, i. e. with explicit distinction between pragmatics, semantics and syntax. I talked it over with him in detail, especially the need of making more clear the explanations of his new concepts. He intends to work it over. I expect it to become a very good and interesting book. I think we might consider it for the Library. He could perhaps send you an abstract of it.

I talked with MorrisPMorris, Charles W., 1901–1979, am. Philosoph, verh. mit Trude Morris about all the questions concerning the monographs in preparation or to be planned for Encyclopedia I and II. I suppose he will write you about it. I am very much in favor of getting the collaboration of ReichenbachPReichenbach, Hans, 1891–1953, dt.-am. Philosoph and FeiglPFeigl, Herbert, 1902–1988, öst.-am. Philosoph, seit 1931 verh. mit Maria Feigl. Quite a number of monographs and supplements will have to be written, and ReichenbachPReichenbach, Hans, 1891–1953, dt.-am. Philosoph and FeiglPFeigl, Herbert, 1902–1988, öst.-am. Philosoph, seit 1931 verh. mit Maria Feigl seem to fit in especially well.

I am looking forward to your article “International Planning for Freedom”. In your letter, you put the alternative as: planning vs. democracy; and then of course we all prefer the second. The question is, whether democracy is actually incompatible with efficient planning and regulation.

We are very glad to hear that you have a nice house, both of you living and working as happily as the world events allow, that you are again working at six or a dozen projects at once, as in the old times. Our best wishes for you both, personally and for your work and for the big events upon the outcome of which all our lives depend.