Neurath Reconsidered: New Sources and Perspectives (Boston Studies in the Philosophy and History of Science, 336)

This highly readable book is a collection of critical papers on Otto Neurath (1882-1945). It comprehensively re-examines Neurath’s scientific, philosophical and educational contributions from a range of standpoints including historical, sociological and problem-oriented perspectives. Leading Neurath scholars disentangle and connect Neurath’s works, ideas and ideals and evaluate them both in their original socio-historical context and in contemporary philosophical debates. Readers will discover a new critical understanding. Drawing on archive materials, essays discuss not only Neurath’s better-known works from lesser-known perspectives, but also his lesser-known works from the better-known perspective of their place in his overall philosophical oeuvre. Reflecting the full range of Neurath's work, this volume has a broad appeal. Besides scholars and researchers interested in Neurath, Carnap, the Vienna Circle, work on logical empiricism and the history and philosophy of science, this book will also appeal to graduate students in philosophy, sociology, history and education. Readers will find Neurath’s thoughts described and evaluated in an accessible manner, making it a good read for those beyond the academic world such as social leaders and activists. The book includes the edited 1940-45 Neurath-Carnap correspondence and the English translation of Neurath's logic papers. Front Matter ....Pages i-xiii Introduction (Jordi Cat, Adam Tamas Tuboly)....Pages 1-20 Front Matter ....Pages 21-21 A Viennese Library in Exile: Otto Neurath and the Heritage of Central European Culture in the Anglo-Saxon World (Friedrich Stadler)....Pages 23-44 Otto Neurath: The Philosopher in the Cave (Don Howard)....Pages 45-65 Science and Socialism: Otto Neurath as a Political Writer (1919–1932) (Günther Sandner)....Pages 67-87 United by Action: Neurath in England (Adam Tamas Tuboly)....Pages 89-113 Front Matter ....Pages 115-115 Visualizing Relations in Society and Economics: Otto Neurath’s Isotype-Method Against the Background of his Economic Thought (Elisabeth Nemeth)....Pages 117-140 Traveling Exhibitions in the Field: Settlements, War-Economy, and the Collaborative Practice of Seeing, 1919–1925 (Sophie Hochhäusl)....Pages 141-176 Generating Cognitive Tools: Neurath’s Educational Ideal and the Concept of ISOTYPE (Angélique Groß)....Pages 177-195 Rationality and Pseudo-Rationality in Political Economy: Neurath, Mises, Weber (Thomas Uebel)....Pages 197-215 Neurath’s Theory of Theory Classification: History, Optics & Epistemology (Gábor Á. Zemplén)....Pages 217-238 Front Matter ....Pages 239-239 Neurath and the Legacy of Algebraic Logic (Jordi Cat)....Pages 241-337 Neurath and Carnap on Semantics (A. W. Carus)....Pages 339-361 Rejecting Semantic Truth: On the Significance of Neurath’s Syntacticism (Derek Anderson)....Pages 363-382 Front Matter ....Pages 383-383 What a Difference a Decade Makes: The Planning Debates and the Fate of the Unity of Science Movement (George A. Reisch)....Pages 385-411 Of Tennis Courts and Fireplaces: Neurath’s Internment on the Isle of Man and his Politics of Design (Michelle Henning)....Pages 413-434 Does Understanding Mean Forgiveness? Otto Neurath and Plato’s “Republic” in 1944–45 (Antonia Soulez)....Pages 435-449 Thinking About the “Common Reader:” Otto Neurath, L. Susan Stebbing and the (Modern) Picture-Text Style (Silke Körber)....Pages 451-470 Logical Empiricism and Art: The Correspondence Otto Neurath/Meyer Schapiro (Hans-Joachim Dahms)....Pages 471-488 Back Matter ....Pages 489-706