1. Aiken, Henry David / [Hans Jonas] / Quine, W.V.O.

Typed letter, signed by German-born, American Jewish philosopher Hans Jonas, loosely inserted in Henry David Aiken’s pamphlet “God and Evil: A Study of Some Relations Between Faith and Morals”. The Essay by Aiken is inscribed and signed by Aiken in a sarcastic manner: “To God, from one of his congregation – Shem”. In the letter, Jonas reflects on two pages on an evening with Henry David Aiken and his then wife Lillian Woodworth. In his letter to Aiken, Hans Jonas reports back to Aiken after reading his essay [″God and Evil”] and calls it “a beautiful piece of work – in style and content worthy of your “master” who wrote on natural theology….”. Jonas goes on encouraging Aiken: “you are also dead wrong n not publishing a collection of your essays in ethical theory. If your pal Quine can do it “from a logical point of you [sic]”, so can you “from a moral point of view”. Jonas also mentions “that it is worth writing about the ancient problem opf a theodicy in a contemporary context”. [The Essay is n Offprint from Ethics, An International Journal of Social, Political and Legal Philosophy, Volume LXVIII, No. 2].

New York / Washington, DC, 1958. 16,8 x 24 cm. 21 pages (pages 77-97 of the Journal) plus two page-letter (on one leaf), signed by Hans Jonas Original Offprint / Original TLS (Typed letter signed). Very good+ condition. Stapled. Only minimal signs of staining. The letter also discusses a Reference for one “Ed Sayles” and Jonas suggest that Aiken writes “casual but fairly strong” to Howard R. Bartlett, professor of history and head of the Department of Humanities at MIT.

2. Aiken, Henry David / John Rawls / Donald Davidson / Rudolf Carnap / Roderick M. Chisholm / Nelson Goodman / Raphael Demos and others.

Collection of manuscript material, offprints, association-copies and books from the library and personal collection of Professor Henry David Aiken, American Philosopher, specialist on Analytic Philosophy, Aesthetics, Ethics and Education at the Universities of Columbia, Harvard, Michigan and Brandeis. The collection reflects Aiken’s deep connections to the important postwar-period of great thinkers at American Universities like Harvard and Brandeis. Aiken was friends with John Rawls, Raphael Demos, Daniel Bell, Arnold Kaufman, Stephen Toulmin, Israel Scheffler. Aiken’s “Beloved teacher” and mentor was Ralph Barton Perry (see his dedication in “Predicament of the University”). More importantly, Aiken was accepted as scholar and friend around important thinkers like Willard Van Orman Quine, Alfred North Whitehead, Robert Nozick and John Rawls. The collection includes first edition offprints from nearly all of these mentioned, including the rare first appearance of John Rawls’ “Justice as Fairness” in its original wrappers-issue from 1957 [See on our website images under “Libraries & Collections”]. The collection also includes materials previously inscribed and gifted to fellow philosophers in Aiken’s circle of friends, now reunited with this Archive. [Please enquire for access to excellent photographs and descriptions to each title, included in this collection]. The collection includes for example the Proof of Aiken’s publication “The Predicament of the University” [Working-Title: “The Future of the University”] – This title is of great interest alone, with Aiken’s annotations. Also included is the first edition of Aiken’s personal copy of his Thesis for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts: “Hegel’s Philosophy of Fine Art – A Study with special reference to the Theory of Tragedy”. Among the collection are roughly 200 offprints, often with dedications and inscriptions to colleagues. [Each title is listed in detail, with images, on our website under “Libraries & Collections” (click on “Henry D. Aiken Collection”).

Harvard / Brandeis / Cambridge (Mass.) etc., c. 1935 – 1975. Octavo & Quarto. More than 2000 pages. Original Softcover / Stapled. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear.

3. Anderson, Benedict.

Imagined Communities. Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism.

London, Verso Books, 1990. 13,5 x 20,5 cm. 160 pages. Original Softcover. Excellent condition with minor signs of external wear. From the library of philosopher Graham Parkes. With his name on the front free endpaper and his markings in the text.

4. Attali, Jacques.

Les trois mondes: pour une théorie de l’après-crise.

Paris, Fayard, 1981. Octavo. 335 pages. Broche / Softcover. A theory of post-crisis economics by the bold and dashing thinker and statesman, one of the somehow representative presences on the French intellectual scene during the post-structuralist period. Very good in publisher’s printed wraps, rear and front covers bumped at top with resulting crease to covers and pages. Inscribed by the author to Stephen Graubard.

5. Auster, Paul.

Smoke & Blue in the Face – Two Films written by Paul Auster.

New York, Hyperion, 1995. 15 cm x 23.5 cm. VIII, 290 pages. Original Softcover. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. First Edition. Signed by Paul Auster.

6. [Ayer, A.J.] Rogers, Ben.

A.J. Ayer: A Life.

London, Chatto & Windus, 1999. 16 cm x 24 cm. XII, 402 pages including photographs. Original hardcover with dustjacket in protective Mylar. Excellent condition with only minor signs of external wear. Contains two photocopies from a newspaper review pasted on back endpapers. Clean inside with solid binding.

7. [Bar-Hillel, Yehoshua] / [Quine, Willard Van Orman] Kasher, Asa (Ed.).

Language in Focus : Foundations, Methods and Systems. Essays in Memory of Yehoshua Bar-Hillel.

Boston, D.Reidel Publishing Company, 1976. 15.5 cm x 23 cm. 679, (xxviii) pages. Original Hardcover with dustjacket in protective collector’s Mylar. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. Even though there is no sign of it within the book, this is the personal copy of philosopher Willard Van Orman Quine, who also contributed to the Volume. [Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science].

8. Bauer, Edmond.

Théorie de la relativité.

Paris, Librairie de l’Enseignement Technique, 1922. 8°. 128 pages. Reliure originale / Hardcover. Good condition with some minor signs of wear.

9. Bennett, Arnold.

The Human Machine.

London, New York and Toronto, Hodder and Stoughton, 1914. 13 cm x 19 cm. 151 pages. Original hardcover. Excellent condition with minor signs of external wear. Spotting on initial and final pages. Clean inside with solid binding.

10. Berger, John J.

Beating the Heat. Why and How We Must Combat Global Warming.

Berkeley, Berkeley Hills Books, 2000. 13,5 x 21 cm. 133 pages. Original Softcover. Excellent condition with minor signs of external wear. From the library of philosopher Graham Parkes. With his name on the half title and his markings and annotations throughout.