Letter from Irena Krońska written in 09.05.1947

Author Irena Krońska

Category incoming correspondence, Polish researchers in Roman Ingarden's correspondence

Archive Archive of Science PAN in Cracow

Date of creation 9.05.1947

Related places Paris

Reference code in archive K_III-26_D_38

Resource type letter

Subject matter publication issues, scientific issues, translations

Field literature, philosophy

Tags #A. Bayet, #Alexandre Koyré, #changes in translation, #classicism, #concepts of truth, #Controversy over the existence of the world, #Courte histoire de l’existentilisme, #critique, #Cyprian Kamil Norwid, #Deukalion, #Dialectica, #Don Quixote, #Emmanuel Mounier, #existentalism, #health problems, #idea of the work, #Ingarden's works, #Institut de philosophie, #Irena Krońska, #Jan Patočka, #Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz, #Jean Laporte, #Jean Wahl, #Jean-Paul Sartre, #literary trends, #literary truth, #literature, #Marcel Proust, #Martin Heidegger, #Paris, #philosophical journals, #philosophical polemics, #philosophical situation, #Plato, #Polish Bookstore, #Raymond Bayer, #René Descartes, #reviews, #Robert Browning, #scientific articles, #scientific circles in Paris, #scientific journals, #scientific publications, #Shakespeare, #Tadeusz Kroński, #translations, #truth, #Wincenty Lutosławski, #Zagłoba, #Zygmunt Łempicki

Paris, 5/9/1947

v Dear Professor!

v XXX XXX XXX XXX. A week ago, I also received the Controversy over the existence of the world – thank you for both volumes.
v First of all, is your flu completely XXX and how are you feeling?

v As far as the article on literary truth, I almost have the completed translation. In accordance with Professor’s approval I will exchange Norwid for Shakespeare and maybe Zagłoba for Don Quixote. Iwaszkiewicz will be replaced by XXX or Sartre. Łempicki can stay with the addition of que c’est lui qui a représenté XXX cenception en Pologne. To confirm the Polishness of the author, we could write: Roman Ingarden (Cracovie) – besides, many local philosophers know Professor, and of course as a Pole. In general, the scientific spheres like backgrounds so much here that I have never heard the elegant surname of Lutosławski (although with regards to his English work) or XXX without the addition of: XXX savant polonais. – What do I think about this paper? I will write briefly so as not to overwhelm the letter with XXX – I hope that we will be able to talk about everything soon. I have interpreted some of the concepts of truth, actually the majority, perfectly and with great benefit for myself. However, some (like XXX, maturity) are not convincing to me. Of course, they could have been used by some critic. But would it be legitimate 1) philosophically, 2) historically? It may be that my accusations would collapse if the article contained the examples that Professor gave in Poznań. But it is, indeed, also about the examples. Those that I feel a need for personally would be examples of historical literary trends, resp. currents which, without being literary, had a decisive influence on the attitude towards literature (e.g. XXX’s Critique or Plato, for whom literature has no raison d’être because it cannot be true). And as far as literary currents are concerned, I am curious, do you think that one or another concept of truth also differentiates particular literary currents? Personally, I would be apprehensive towards generalizing it due to the existence of currents such as Hellenistic or Roman classicism, or even classicism in general. But I think it is appropriate for many others (realism, naturalism, romanticism, symbolism, sensuality) – As for the completeness of “truthfulness”, I am missing one, namely the one in which the truth itself – whether or not it exists, whatever it is – is the idea of the work (e.g. the work of Proust or “The XXX and the book” by Browning). – Of course, you can say that the very form of my accusations and their existence is possible thanks to the analyzes carried out by Professor, and that this is the nature of science that he who sows never fully uses the fruit himself. If that is the case, I quit.
v I have read about one third of “Controversy”, but I will write my comments only after completing the reading. I am eager to write a review on this, and at the moment I am thinking of two – my husband was asked for one in a letter sent to him by Potoĉek, who is always very interested in Professor; as my husband is very busy with his work now and is also preparing a dissertation on existentialism for Review, I will take it. Besides, I want to write a review in French and I will give it to Wahl or Deukalion, although so far the second issue has not yet been published and I do not know when it will be appearing. – Speaking of which: Professor’s introduction announces a simultaneous publication of two volumes, whereas I only got one. Is the other one in print?
v In Paris, a lot of new books have come out, most, of course, existential. Wahl published Courte histoire de l’existentilisme. Sartre, a book on the Jewish case – á pro pos, wouldn’t you like a little note about this, Professor? The thing is interesting. – There is also Mounier’s XXX on existentialism, A. Bayet and others write on the same topic. I cannot remember if Professor Laporte’s book on Descartes had already come out when you were here.
v Regarding the matter of philosophical magazines, I am glad that you have received at least some of them. I will ask at the Polish Bookstore to add Professor’s name to the address and change XXX to Institut de philosophie (seminars are not known here). If Bayer pays for the paper, I will be able to pay the tab at the Polish Bookstore. – And as far as the paper itself, I am not really sure if I should give the translation to Koyr or Bayer – maybe to the former, just to be safe.
v Have you seen the new philosophical journal DIALECTICA? – it comes out in a few languages (French, German, English) – in Switzerland and Presses Universitates. – I think that it would be worthwhile for Professor to also subscribe to Critique – a literary and philosophical publication, which often publishes Koyré, e.g. his great treatise on Heidegger

I am awaiting further news
v My deepest respect and cordial regards,
v v bien XXX a’Vous.

v v Beautiful bows from my husband

Irena Krońska