Spencer Heath Archive

Item 1952

Carbon of a letter to F.A. Harper from Heath at 1502 Montgomery Road, Baltimore 27, Maryland.

September 10, 1960

 

 

 

 

Dear “Baldy,”

 

     Your letter of August 30^th reached me a few days ago. I truly appreciate its extreme cordiality and look forward to seeing you — in the near future, I hope.

 

     I was much interested some time ago in an enclosure from you via Spencer criticizing our excellent friend, von Mises, for some of his theoretical shortcomings perhaps. The authorship was not given, but I think it might easily have been Bob LeFevre. The criticism seemed on the face of it well taken, even if not of immediate practical importance. This matter of absolutes and relatives is highly illuminated, historically at least, by Ernst Cassirer. But his conclusions, if any, I have not read him far enough to evaluate. In the case of von Mises, I think we should have too much gratitude and appreciation for his influence on behalf of liberty in general, without being too critical of his ulterior philosophic abstractions — however much we may like to delve into these matters among ourselves. (What I have just written has been without convenient reference to the memorandum you sent.)

 

     Spencer has just read to me your clarification of the purpose and function of ideals which you enclosed to him with a memorandum to me. You asked for criticism. I can only offer gratitude and appreciation. What you have said much needed saying and is said well. It brings to the minds of both of us your supper-time conversation at the Loeb Student Center overlooking Washington Square in New York. I wish we could have more conversations like that, in which to become both mutually informed and mutually inspired.

 

     I especially hope to hear more from you about the recently formed foundation with purposes and ideals so similar to our own.

 

     Please give my best wishes also to Mrs. Harper and Larry.

                        Cordially yours,

 

SH/m