Moritz Schlick: Die Wiener Zeit 1926 - 1936 (I/6)

Schlick`s moving to Vienna marks a new period in his philosophical orientation, which wasn`t incarnated in his writings prior to 1926. The history of the Vienna Circle - this top-class circle of discussion formed by philosophers and scientists that has had such a decisive influence on 20th century philosophy of science - is inseparably connected with Schlick`s work during this time. After a long period during which the reception of the Circle`s philosophy and impact was narrowed down to a mere repetition of simplified clichés, recent decades have witnessed attempts to create a more differentiated picture. The conception of the Circle as one homogeneous philosophical school is part of such persistent clichés; this being a conception which neglects the sometimes fundamental controversies that have taken place on the grounds of a common commitment to clarity and exactness. The present volume will contribute to correcting this picture: numerous comments of the editors refer to the above mentioned discussions and adduce the respective contrasting standpoints plus references. On the other side, comments illustrate the influences of Schlick`s contemporaries - Wittgenstein`s, above all - on his thinking. Moreover, Schlick`s references - which he himself used to handle rather carelessly - have been completed by the editors, and quotations from both his unpublished and published writings clarify and illustrate the text where necessary. Each text is preceded by an editorial report, which sheds light on the genesis of the corresponding text and tries to evaluate its position within Schlick`s complete works. Apart from texts that have remained unpublished, both comments and editorial reports are largely based on the huge correspondence Schlick maintained with philosophers and scientists such as Carnap, Einstein, Heisenberg, Neurath, and Reichenbach, among others. The development of a "consistent empiricism", the redetermination of the relationship between philosophy and science, the foundation of knowledge, and the mind-body-problem are only some of the most important issues Schlick dealt with during this period. Alas, because of his assassination in 1936, Schlick was not blessed to see the results of his thinking published in a monograph, which was meant to take the place of his opus magnum, the General Theory of Knowledge, the second edition of which was published in 1925. Volume 6 of the Complete Edition of Schlick`s works comprises the entirety of articles, contributions, and reviews that have been authorized by himself during the last decade of his life. The texts in this volume are based on the articles` first publication. Earlier versions of texts, as can be found in Schlick`s literary estate, are documented in the critical apparatus. The present volume is volume I/6 of the Critical Edition of Moritz Schlick`s Complete Works. The volumes I/2 ("Die Reflexion des Lichtes/Raum und Zeit in der gegenwärtigen Physik") and I/3 ("Lebensweisheit/Fragen der Ethik") have been already finished and are about to be published by Springer Wien-New York. The printing costs of those two volumes have been funded by the FWF.