The American Reception of Logical Positivism: First Encounters, 1929–1932

Abstract

This paper reconstructs the American reception of logical positivism in the early 1930s. I argue that Moritz Schlick (who had visiting positions at Stanford and

The Reception of Relativity in American Philosophy

“…This article has provided an overview 22 Northrop to Reichenbach, Jan. 5, 1932, HRP, 014-57-12. 23 See Verhaegh (2020Verhaegh ( , 2023. Lewis is an interesting figure because he proposed a relativized (or pragmatic) conception of the a priori that was quite similar to the perspective Carnap and Reichenbach had been developing in Europe.…”

“…Together, this growing community of scientists and philosophers started to develop a new field that was variously called “scientific philosophy” or “philosophy of science.” 17 In 1925, C. I. Lewis signaled the rise of a “new movement in philosophy” inspired by the “revolutionary advances in logic, in mathematical, and in physical theory” and noted that “the partitions between these subjects have become thin or disappeared” as they all developed “in the direction of greater comprehensiveness and increased rigor” (1925, 410). Similar observations were made by Paul Schilpp, who recognized “a tendency in recent American philosophy which … may perhaps most adequately called and described as the philosophy of science” (1930, 276); by Frank Thilly, who noted the rise of “new movements” that “derive their inspiration from the methods and results of natural science … and seek … to avoid the metaphysical presuppositions of the older schools” (1926, 522); and by Charles Morris, who recognized “many streams of activity” that contribute to “a wide convergence toward a unified philosophical science and scientific philosophy” (1935, 147–48; Verhaegh Forthcoming).…”

Logical Positivism: The History of a “Caricature”

“…36 Though the article extensively discusses the contributions of Carnap and Schlick, it does not even mention Neurath or Frank, two of the foremost representatives of an alternative approach to scientific philosophy. 37 The impact of Blumberg and Feigl's paper can hardly be overstated. Not only does it coin the term 'logical positivism'⎯thereby advertising the movement as a philosophical 'ism'⎯for many Americans it was their first introduction to the Vienna Circle.…”

Susanne Langer and the American Development of Analytic Philosophy

“…10 8 Schlick had a similar impact on the West Coast through his visiting professorships at Stanford University (1929) and Berkeley (1931-32). For a reconstruction of Feigl's and Schlick's contributions to the promotion of the views of the Vienna Circle, see Verhaegh (2020a). 9 Nagel to Sidney Hook (December 3, 1934, SHP); Quine to Cooley (April 4, 1933, WVQP, Item 260).…”