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Sorokin_IX_F_7_193
March 29, 1956Dear Dr. Sorokin:Tour last good letter to Frits has proved to be of greatassistance to us already. I thought youshould know aboutit.Tou gave us what may have been an unconscious or super-conscious lead to clarify the Declaration when you commented,"...it is somewhat eclectic in its attempt to connect fourdifferent problems: methods of cognition, freedom, democracy, and natural law." I am sure that you are correct Inthis criticism. Further, you have provided within the heartof the criticism the tool to overcome the difficulty.I will send along the reorganization of the material in theDeclaration as soon as we integrate it around those fourproblems. I am sure that it will be more meaningful atthat point.Many thanks for your help. I am looking forwardyou sometime soon.to meetingDr. P. A. SorokinCenter for Creative AltruismHarvard UniversityCambridge 38, Mass.
Sorokin_IX_F_7_194
Dr. F. 1. Runsihc Foundation for Integrated Education, Inc.2lt6 - ast lioth Streethow York 17, New lortcKy dear KunziFirst of all let ne congratulate you on the latest issue of Main Currents. Ifind that nagchl's article is excellent, and shows his competent knowledgeabout the problem of consciousness In Hindu thought, as well as his knowledgeof modem neurological studies of brain activity and brain waves. I am sorry,however, Uiat he seems to be unacquainted with Theresa Broaae'e long Instrumental study of the brain waves published In my Symposium! Pie Forms andTechniques of Altruistic and Spiritual Growth, lay the way, who is this Eogchi—Emm a li'indu 'or whof 'I am i'lad also that you reviewed Dr. Prankl's book. I found it valuable as asign pointing out the future develcprnmt of psycholoe/ and psychiatry, including psychotherapy, and as a sign of a recovery from Freudian phantasmagoriaswhich infected so disastrously psychological, psychiatric, and social thoughtof this country, of Creat Britain, and part of Switzerland. A number of newcurrents of psychological and psychiatric thought appearing in various countries at the present time move in tho same direction aa i-rankl'a book. Amongother things, you probably noticed that there is a considerable similarity between Frankl's conception of the structure of human personality and my oantheory in that field.Now, as to your Declaration, 1 am perfectly ready to help in this matter, butX do not see clearly how I can do it. With my integral 1st system in thatfield, if I simply would sign your Declaration, that would amount to a sortof contradiction to ay una theory. If by application of deductive method Inthe field of cultural and social sciences you mean an application of mathematical and syllogistic logic as the most fruitful, I cannot also without seriousreservations to state so. In my forthcoming tads and Foibles I devoted severalchapters to a very sharp criticism of psendo-raathernatical, pa'oudo-syHolistic, andpeeudo-physicalistic approaches to the study of social, cultural, and psychological pliononona (criticism of practically all the current testa of human personality,beginning with intelligence tests and ending with all the projective tests, thanquantitative and mathematical approaches of Raahevsky, liapoport, von Neumann, andothers), (one of the chapters devoted to the orltlcism of tests has Just beenpublished as the leading paper in the iiarrard Educational Review). Oils criticismshone that application of a deductive method—uatheraatical and logical—In no wayprevented respective authors either from gross blunders or from cognitive sterility of their conclusions. t:ith euch a background I simply cannot state that tba
Sorokin_IX_F_7_195
Dr. F. L. Kuna, 2 April 6, 1S56Then, as I mentioned in ;:y previous letter, your Declaration extolls deductivemethod as a foundation for democracy, freedom, and natural law. Also, I cannot support this contention because in the history of social thought there havebeen deductive political and social ideologies which now supported autocracies,now democracies, now slavery, serfdom, and now freedom, which now appealed tonatural law and now denied its existence. This factual situation does notpermit me to share this part of your Declaration.In addition, ae I pointed out in ay previous letter, the tems freedom,democracy, and natural law, when undefined, are practically neanlngleas andadmit quite different Interpretations. For all these reasons I hope thatyou - -11 understand why I find it difficult to join your Declaration.Most sincerely yours,Pltirim A. Sorokin
Sorokin_IX_F_7_196
ir Foil IwrEc3HATEH Education, Inc.April 11, 1956My dear Sorokin,Bagchi was born in India, I am told. The nameis Indian, and sounds as if he were from Gujerst.I shall not trouble you further about the Declaration, which is a purely practical document and does not purportto be a final statement of anybody's philosophy. All that itdoes is concentrate attention upon an important item that mustbe financed and the results published.We do not say or imply in the Declaration thatthe deductive-exact method is of supreme importance in anyfield. Vfe do say and imply, and I myself maintain, that itaffords an immediate and self-authoritative method to get the startof a real and valued consensus, and that such a start is of urgentimportance, because It is of such a character that it can be madeavailable in the secular school system of a democratic society.We say (and this is also true) that that much of a consensus wouldgive us a good start on an American ideology, since upon that muchthe best of the scholars (including Catholics) would agree. Theywould not agree beyond that, but then we don't want or need, norshall we ewer get, further agreement.Americans are literally going crasy because theyhave no common body of theoria, namely, reality and value toshare~through education. We are not talking about final truthsimprisoned in and conveyed through a few words. Such must bestated, but they are ideals. We are talking about starting withexplicitly stated perfections and infinitudes (postulates), showing every step of reasoned connection with empirical proof, andthus allowing every young man and young woman to know there issomething, at least, of supernal truth about the sublime orderthat they can share.It turns out that such science is. a part of realistic metaphysics, and that being so it fonns a strongly coersivepart of any good metaphysics.Speaking personally, I may add that my own view ofthe universe incorporates the foregoing. It is not limited thereunto, either as method, nor as to content. But I do not ask foragreement on these larger issues. All I desire to do is to Joinwith others who see that if we get that much established by educational research, we shall get a great deal more later from thegenerations of the future.
Sorokin_IX_F_7_197
I am a respecter of intuition. In fact, throughintuition I have found that Shakspere's plays, as aethesticsociology, contain each one of them an unique set of psychic vectors, and possibly even of tensors and spinors. (This discoveryis unpublished. The structure would interest you more than any■an I know.) I know that by writing vector, tensor and spinorequations one cannot write plays of Shaksperian quality, anymore than one can write Mozartian scores by Jotting down a few equations in the style of Fourier, Bessell, LaGrange et al.But I also know one reason why the gibberishfed to our society is received by the masses as if it were equalto Shakspere and Mozart, and how our society is corrupted thereby.There are several reasons. One is that school bands, and radioand television programs, and musical recordings are what theyare. But there is a very basic reasons, too, not to be neglected.This is that good music is also good sense, while musical trash issensate degradation. Hence if good sense, i.e. knowledge of theintelligibility of the universe, is starved in education, goodmusic and good musical taste are also going to be starved, becausethe soul (in Plato's sense) has been basically starved.Ever yours,F. L. KunzVice PresidentP.S. Sorokin,Esq.Research Center in Creative AltruisiHarvard University8 Cliff StreetWinchester, Mass.
Sorokin_IX_F_7_198
t Im-kghathm Jiutc-AnApril 23, 1956Dr. P. A. SorokinHarvard UniversityCambridge 38, MassachusettsMy dear Sorokin:T have now had time to read "Thia la My Philosophy". It Isan admirably comnact statement of your major Interests. Theuse of ley language and of items that Illustrated the generalizations makes Is unusually readable. I am asking Mrs. Sellonto examine it also.One suggestion: The nresfint deficiencies in ideal-real truth(i.e.ti Qiuypi*) amid the present wealth of Inductlve-lnferentlalfacts and defective generalizations might usefully be more fullystressed, and the Important role of actual new forms of courageousconduct by the independent non-egotletic individual who knows andobeys Truth could also be more fully made clear to advantage. Itis these knowledgeable rebels, not the emotionalized Individuals,who are so effective In bettering society. Even Joan of Arc knew;and of course Socrates and others rested secure and acted withoowerful leverage, unon varying degrees of knowledge-laden Insight.We all know various modern conscientious objectors to war who actrightly from inadequate reason, or neople who are zealous butirrational - often pestiferous! - vegetarians, or non-smokers,or teetotalers who act from unreason. If we contrast theaeadmirably well-meaning, over-emotional peoole with the oulet,resolute. Intelligent, self-possessed radical, we see the nlaceof Truth in the scheme.To you and me Truth, Beauty, and Goodness are one, in essence.In action one notices that one or other mood leads In a specificcultural enterprise. The power of Truth Is undervalued, and thetragedy of our time is the wealth of data (largely ohyeicallstic)held together by r>oor generalizations, which wants organizing byvalid nrocesees, which nroeesses you notice on the first nage,all too briefly.Ever yours.
Sorokin_IX_F_7_199
(Kunz, Dr. F. L. )The Foundation for Integrated EducationDr. F. L. KurtzThe Foundation for Integrated Education, Inc.21i6 Eaat ttoth StreetNew York 17, New Tork.■-,- dear HunztI thank you for your last letter, .hist now I want to say that if youwould like to publish in MAIN CUHEH.TS my essay, "This Is My Philosophy,'1I would be glad to have it published there. The Symposium for which itwas originally written is not going to be published soon, and a preliminary publication of my essay in your journal in no way would prevent itsrepublication in the Symposium—if, and when it is published. If, however, you find it unsuitable for ..ATM CUKRENT3, please do not have anyhesitation in saying sot 1 can publish it elsewhere.Vie have received the Charter of Incorporation of the Research Societyfor Creative Altruism, and Just now Dean Bowditeh and members of theSociety's Financial Corzolttee are taking first steps for getting somesubstantial funds for the Society's activity. Within the next few monthsthis natter of the funds should be cleared positively or negatively. Inthe fall, anyhow, we expect to have the first public meeting of theSociety—either at Harvard or perhaps at Yale—with a number of papersread and discussed. If the funds are obtainable, then we would startalso a very substantial scientific Journal for publication of the research papers of the researchers working In this field.iVith best wishes,Si merely yours,Pltirim A. Sorokin
Sorokin_IX_F_7_200
l^m Foundation For Integrated Education, Inc.December 4, 1956My dear Sorokin:I decided to make only a very limited reference to the Research Society for Creative Altruismso as to reserve the opportunity to say somethingmuch more concrete about it in our January issue, bywhich time we shall know very much more where we arein that operation.In the January number we intend to reviewFads and Foibles, and the combination of the two itemswi7"! , therefore, have more effect than a single noticealone.Ever yours cordially,F. L. KunzVice PresidentProf. P. A. SorokinDirector. Research Center in Creative AltruismHarvard University3 Cliff St.Winchester, Mass.
Sorokin_IX_F_7_201
Dr. F. L. KunzThe Foundation forIntegrated Education2u6 East li6th StreetNew Tork 17, Hew lorkK.y dear Kunz:lT.ank you for your note. lour plan tc postponea substantial write-up about the Research Societyappears to me wise. Since you are going to publish a review of my FADS AMD FOIBLES, perhaps youwould be interested to glance Uirough the enclosedreview of the London Times Literary Supplement,Tilth my best wishes,Host cordially yours,
Sorokin_IX_F_7_202
December 19, 1S56Dr. F. 1. KunzThe Foundation forIntegrated Sducation, Inc.2li6 East Uoth StreetHew Tork 17, Mew lerrkAs a token of my appreciation of your kindnessand creative work, I asked my publisher to sendfee you an advance copy of newnaw little volumeabout American Sex devolution. I naturally wouldbe highly Interested in your reaction to this"very old-fashioned and at the same time very muchin-advance-of-time essay."Kith my best wishes for everything good for you inthe coadni: New Year.Very sincerely yours,the coming New Year,Pitirim A. Soroidn
Sorokin_IX_F_7_203
e Foundation For Integrated EducatiiDecember 18, 1956Prof. P.A. SorokinDirector, Research Center in Creative AltruisiHarvard University8 Cliff StreetWinchester, Mass.Dear Professor Sorokin:Thank you very much indeed for your letter toMr. Kunz, telling him of your forthcoming book throughPorter Sargent. If we receive a copy of this in goodtime, Mr. Kunz will add a few lines to what he is sayingin his review of Fads and Foibles, which he is hopefulof reviewing fully in our January iasus.With regard to a fairly good notice of theResearch Society on Creative Altruism, it would help usgreatly if we could have an extra copy of the papers connected with that, but not the Constitution or by-laws.We also need to have the following information: (1) Hasthe Committee appointed at the last meeting reported,and what is the nature of the report, and (2) what addresiis used for the organization and what kind of program isahead for the next few months, or year? Naturally, Mr.Kunz would not go into detail about^ any of this, but hewant3 to be fully informed so thatV^speak correctly outof the general picture.With very best wishes of the Season, I am.Cordially yours.
Sorokin_IX_F_7_204
Foundation for Integrated Education,(Miss Wagner)December 27, 1956Hiss Margaret TSagnerFoundation for Integrated Education21)6 East lioth StreetNew York 17, New YorkDear i :iss TTagper:At this Moment neither of yor questions can bedefinitely answered. Dr. Kunz probably receivedmy notification about the meeting of the Executive Board and Council on January 12, at whichthe report of the dcmlttoe elected at the Yalemeeting, aa rell aa some other problems in yourquestion No. 2 would be discussed, and J hopsdecided. If at this neetlng these questions aredecided, and if Dr. Kunz would het be at themeeting, T shall be glad to furnish you the necessary information.Very sincerely yours,Pitirlm A. Sorokin

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