Spencer Heath Archive

Item 2271

Letter to Heath from Pyrrha Gladys Grodman

February 25, 1942

 

 

 

SOCIETY FOR LONG ISLAND GEORGEISTS

TEMPORARY  HEADQUARTERS AT

207-12 JAMAICA AVENUE,  BELLAIRE,  L I. Telephone: HOIlis 5-1211

Dear Mr. Heath:

I am mailing under separate cover Planck’s treatise. May I commend for your re-consideration pages 82-92 in which the subjects of reversible vs. irreversible processes; the statistical composite nature of irreversible laws; statistical vs. dynamic laws; the causal character of law vs. free will – are discussed, and finally your own comment on esthetic in place of ethical law. I believe these subjects pertinent for develop­ment in your manuscript, to the extent of a paragraph or so on each. The brief reference to will appearing in the “Announce­ment” is inadequate in my opinion, and the subject could be de­veloped at greater length including an elucidation of your posi­tion on determinism as opposed to the newer indeterminist stand.

 Your comment on esthetic law as more desirable, and cre­ative in contrast to moral and ethical law in penciled notation on the bottom of page 92 is well-made. I suggest this as an appropriate theme for development, particularly in view of the current acceptance of “The Good Society” version of societal amelioration. Perhaps it would help you in the extended expression of your views along these lines to scan Walter Lippmann’s book, The Good Society. Your refutation of the Golden Mean in the Woodlock correspondence can be re-stated in this connection.

 It has also occurred to me, in connection with the state­ment of the Energy Formula, that you devote a paragraph or two to illustrations of the effects of progressively increasing and progressively decreasing amounts of energy upon frequency and duration, so that instances of “time lag” and apparent “anticipation” (as we discussed Sunday evening) would be interpreted and clarified.

 

 

 

 I shall continue to give thought to the manuscript.

 I’ve located Mr. Bernstein’s note with comment on your work: “With all the magnificent analytical work during the past 25 years of the equilibrium economists (Bobbins, von Mises, von Hayek, Pareto, (et al.) I consider the sort of thing Beckwith and Heath are doing, a sheer waste of time. Slaying the thrice slain may be fun, but it’s futile, and I’m sure they are not the people to modernize George.”

 Did Cecil have the opportunity to look up the Reeve manu­scripts in the New York Public library? My curiosity has been aroused concerning his theories.

 I trust you will make much progress with the Energy Con­cept. Best wishes.

Cordially yours,

 

                                        P. G. Grodman