D O C . 3 8 6 A P R I L 1 9 2 0 3 2 3 My professional obligations (as statistician at a testing agency) should permit me to produce the first sampling (taking measurements is unfortunately [or thank God?] much easier than tailoring and cobbling)—only in about 4–6 months. Before that, everything still seems rough and unfinished, while in my head it’s already “rolled out in finished form.” I am fully aware of the significance of my preliminary communication today: the consequences are, one major victory of relativity theory later, a thorough reforma- tion of philosophy, the creation of the long-sought-after science of “psychology” (under a new, hereditarily unencumbered name, of course), which will thus become the focus of the phil. complex. I would very much like to extend my paper on “The Space and Time Problem in Psychology” as a dissertation toward a Dr. phil. If this work should make it to press in this form, I would most humbly ask whether (after prior perusal, of course, which will possibly be feasible in autumn of this y[ear]), you as the creator of the theory of space-time would accept dedication of my work to you. It would spur me on to put every effort into completing this grand task. It is not yet clear to me where I could submit the work, considering that it as it were—“modifies” psychology as we know it. And that is perhaps not so very wel- come in some places! Considering that, in the envisioned approach of functional psychology, a discipline of nat. science is involved, couldn’t I, after appropriate de- velopment and with a suitable title, submit the work to the math. and sciences department? I sincerely beg your pardon, highly esteemed Professor, if my inquiry should be burdensome to you. But I am convinced that in view of the importance of the matter for science, I shall encounter your benevolent support. In order to facilitate granting of my request without loss of time on your part, I enclose a prepared envelope a penciled note would certainly suffice. —Soon, when I have advanced beyond the outline of the enclosed, I shall take the liberty of reporting to you on the philosophical perspectives that your cosmol- ogy has opened up to me. Also on Spengler, who in my o[pinion] has overstepped the scope of his cultural formula, for we are steering toward a new ascendancy (toward the “Einstein-Era”) we shall not succumb in the listless resignation of a decline.[5] In respectful admiration I remain yours most sincerely, Hans Wittig.
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