How the Cold War Transformed Philosophy of Science : To the Icy Slopes of Logic

This in-depth study of the development of philosophy of science studies in the United States during the Cold War documents the political vitality of logical empiricism and Otto Neurath's Unity of Science Movement when the movement emigrated to the U.S. in the 1930s. It follows its de-politicization by a convergence of intellectual, cultural and political forces in the 1950s. The volume will be of interest to philosophers and historians of science, as well as scholars of Cold War studies. This Book Is The First In-depth Study Of The Development Of Philosophy Of Science In The United States During The Cold War. It Documents The Political Vitality Of Logical Empiricism And Otto Neurath's Unity Of Science Movement When These Projects Emigrated To The United States In The 1930s And Follows Their Depoliticization By A Convergence Of Intellectual, Cultural, And Political Forces In The 1950s. Students Of Logical Empiricism And The Vienna Circle Often Treat These As Strictly Intellectual Nonpolitical Projects. In Fact, The Refugee Philosophers Of Science Were Highly Active Politically And Debated Questions About Values Inside And Outside Science, As A Result Of Which Their Philosophy Of Science Was Scrutinized Politicaly From Both Within And Without The Profession, By Such Institutions As J. Edgar Hoover's Fbi. Based On Extensive Archival Research, This Book Constitutes A Major Chapter In American Intellectual History During The Cold War. It Reveals How An Unlikely Combination Of Intellectual And Political Forces Taking Root In Cold War Anticommunism Shaped Both The Curricula Of Colleges And Even The Research Undertaken By Leading Philosophers. It Will Prove Absorbing Reading To Philosophers And Historians Of Science, Intellectual Historians, And Scholars Of Cold War Studies.--jacket. An Introduction To Logical Empiricism And The Unity Of Science Movement In The Cold War -- Otto Neurath, Charles Morris, Rudolf Carnap, And Philipp Frank: Political Philosophers Of Science -- Leftist Philosophy Of Science In America And The Reception Of Logical Empiricism In New York City -- Doomed In Advance To Defeat? John Dewey On Reductionism, Values, And The International Encyclopedia Of Unified Science -- Red Philosophy Of Science: Blumberg, Malisoff, Somerville, And Early Philosophy Of Science -- The View From The Left:logical Empiricism And Communist Philosophers -- The View From The Far Left:logical Empiricism And Communist Philosophers -- Postwar Disillusionment, Anti-intellectualism, And The Values Debate -- Horace Kallen's Attack On The Unity Of Science -- Creeping Totalitarianism, Creeping Scholasticism: Neurath, Frank, And The Trouble With Semantics -- Frank's Neurathian Crusade: Science, Englightenment, And Values -- A Very Fertile Field For Investigation: Anticollectivism And Anticommunism In Popular And Academic Culture -- Anticommunist Investigations, Loyalty Oaths, And The Wrath Of Sidney Hook -- Competing Programs For Postwar Philosophy Of Science -- Freedom Celebrated: The Professional Decline Of Philipp Frank And The Unity Of Science Movement -- The Marginalization Of Charles Morris -- Values, Axioms, And The Icy Slopes Of Logic -- Professionalism, Power, And What Might Have Been. George A. Reisch. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 389-405) And Index. This intriguing and ground-breaking book is the first in-depth study of the development of philosophy of science in the United States during the Cold War. It documents the political vitality of logical empiricism and Otto Neurath's Unity of Science Movement when these projects emigrated to the US in the 1930s and follows their de-politicization by a convergence of intellectual, cultural and political forces in the 1950s. Students of logical empiricism and the Vienna Circle treat these as strictly intellectual non-political projects. In fact, the refugee philosophers of science were highly active politically and debated questions about values inside and outside science, as a result of which their philosophy of science was scrutinized politically both from within and without the profession, by such institutions as J. Edgar Hoover's FBI. It will prove absorbing reading to philosophers and historians of science, intellectual historians, and scholars of Cold War studies.