Carnap’s Logical Structure of the World [1933c]

Abstract

This extensive work by Rudolf Carnap represents a massive compilation of his ideas on logic and epistemology. Yet it is not Carnap’s ideas alone but also those set forth by the Vienna Circle as a scientific conception of the world which have been fully presented for the first time in Carnap’s major work. “The basic orientation and the line of thought of this book are not property and achievement of the author alone but belong to a certain scientific atmosphere which is neither created nor maintained by any single individual. The thoughts which I have written down here are supported by a group of active or receptive collaborators. This group has in common especially a certain basic scientific orientation. That they have turned away from traditional philosophy is only a negative characteristic. The positive features are more important; it is not easy to describe them, but I shall try to give a loose characterization. The new type of philosophy has arisen in close contact with the work of the special sciences, especially mathematics and physics. Consequently they have taken the strict and responsible orientation of the scientific investigator as their guideline for philosophical work, while the attitude of the traditional philosopher is more like that of a poet. This new attitude not only changes the style of thinking but also the type of problem that is posed. The individual no longer undertakes to erect in one bold stroke an entire system of philosophy. Rather, each works at his special place within the one unified science. For the physicist and the historian this orientation is commonplace, but in philosophy we witness the spectacle (which must be depressing to a person of scientific orientation) that one after another and side by side a multiplicity of incompatible philosophical systems is erected. If we allot to the individual in philosophical work as in the special sciences only a partial task, then we can look with more confidence into the future: in slow careful construction insight after insight will be won. Each collaborator contributes only what he can endorse and justify before the whole body of his co-workers. Thus stone will be carefully added to stone and a safe building will be erected at which each following generation can continue to work.”

[The book reviewed is Rudolf Carnap’s Der Logische Aufbau der Welt (Berlin, 1928), which was translated under the above title by Rolf A. George (Routledge and Kegan Paul, London, and University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1967). - Ed.]