Letter from Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz written 16.09.1935

Author Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz

Category incoming correspondence, Polish researchers

Archive Ingarden Family archives

Date of creation 16.09.1935

Related places Warsaw, Zakopane

Reference code in archive ARI

Resource type letter

Subject matter academic issues, personal issues, portrait issue, travel

Field philosophy, theory of cognition

Tags #Alfred North Whitehead, #Allgemeine Wahrnehmungs-lehre, #beer, #concept of the object, #Gegenstand der Erkenntnis, #Heinrich Rickert, #Lithuania, #Maria Ingarden, #painting, #Paul Ferdinand Linke, #picture of Ingarden, #portrait, #Roman Ingarden, #Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, #theory of cognition, #tinctures, #Warsaw, #Witkacy, #Zakopane

16.IX 1935
NΠ [=ND – no drinking] NP [=NS – no smoking] NΠπ [= no drinking beer] 27 days

Honoured and Dear Professor,
I am traveling through W[arsaw] from Lithuania to Zakopane. A complete letter paralysis occurred, perhaps due to Whitehead, about whom I wrote 153 p[ages]. In Lithuania, I made nine portraits, my stay in W[arsaw] was filled with teeth experiences. I have finished the “Aufbau” a long time ago, but for the time being I cannot get myself to formulate [my ideas] in writing, in a letter. I think that I should start writing about you more. But you yourself discouraged me by saying that these are fragments and that in the latest work you go further. Do you think that a polemic in writing by a guy like me could be of interest to you? I do it in great detail and honestly, as far as possible. If you say yes – I will start writing simultaneously with [the text on] Wh[itehead], because I have it implicitly in myself and in my notes. You have no idea what mad joy your letter gave me. It was the best I could dream of. My personal matters have calmed down for now. Binge drinking [has been] excluded for a v[ery] long time – beer crossed off since 20/VIII. I only tasted a few drops of incredible Lithuanian tinctures, and I was admired and venerated almost for the willpower and incredible fortitude.
I read Linke (Allgemeine Wahrnehmungs-lehre). I have Rickert’s Gegenst [and] der Erkenntnis, do you advise this kind of reading? I ask you v.[ery] kindly for a list of books on the theory of cognition, though you know I claim such a subject doesn’t exist. A growing hatred begins to burn in me against the concept of the object. I will write more from Zakopane. In the meantime, I enclose words of true friendship, deep respect and gratitude, and I ask you to pass on my respect and affection to your wife and children. I regret that the eldest was slighted.
n Witkacy
Please, send me some picture of you, if you can.