Letter to Władysław Tatarkiewicz written 17.10.1950

Rkp 1529
44

                                                                                                                              Cracow, 17/10/1950

Dear Most Honourable Professor!

            First of all, thank you very much for the kind words that you wrote in the dedication of your book; I was very pleased. I’ve already browsed the book a bit; however, in doing so I came across a certain circumstance about which I have to notify you. Namely, it turned out that the copy I received was, unfortunately, defective: namely, the 18th signature is bound in twice, while signature 19 is missing ‒ which, moreover, contains things of special interest for me, as it presents Bergson’s views and the origins of phenomenology. If not for the strange conditions in which this book saw the light of day, I’d make the effort myself to have the publishers supplement or exchange this copy; however, I think that, rebus sic stantibus,[1] it would be better not to arrange this matter myself but to ask you to graciously turn to Dania Gromska for help. Maybe they still have some unused signatures from this book; I’d give them the extra 18th and ask for the 19th.

            I’m very sorry for daring to ask you to occupy yourself with this matter, but the circumstances exonerate me.

            Given this opportunity, I’d like to inform you that Stefan Szuman has announced a lecture to the Philosophical Commission (entitled ‘Some grounds for the investigation and evaluation of classroom teaching’). He’d like to have this lecture at the end of November or beginning of December. I don’t know whether this topic falls within the scope of activities of the Philosophical Commission, but I’ve said nothing to Szuman on this subject, because I wasn’t even able to immediately read the title, which he gave to me on a piece of paper, and now I think that, first and foremost, the President of the Commission should be the one to say something about it. In any case, I’m not voicing any reservations.

            I apologise for writing instead of coming down, but I have a great deal of work now, and I’m afraid that delaying the matter of exchanging signatures in your book might render the whole matter impossible. And that, to me, would be a pity, as the book is beautiful.

I attach cordial greetings and expressions of true esteem

                                                                                               /signature/ Roman Ingarden

[1] (Latin) since things have taken this turn