Letter, 6 Mar. 1978, from Bose to King. Discusses his old age and bad health; was a joy hearing from King, whom he remembers well. Memories of others, such as Rose, and those who have now died, like Azhar Ali, D. Raja Ram and S. Das Gupta. Would be glad… read more
Letter, 6 Mar. 1978, from Bose to King. Discusses his old age and bad health; was a joy hearing from King, whom he remembers well. Memories of others, such as Rose, and those who have now died, like Azhar Ali, D. Raja Ram and S. Das Gupta. Would be glad to pass on his reminiscences of Wittgenstein. 'He was a very good friend to me, but I cannot say he succeeded in teaching me much philosophy'. Adds postscript asking if King is in touch with Con Drury and A. R. M. Murray, who both knew Wittgenstein.
Incomplete photocopy of letter, 5 Apr. 1978, from Bose to King. Praises King's plan of collaborating with Desmond Lee to publish their notes of Wittgenstein's lectures of 1930-1932. Fears he will be disappointed in what Bose can contribute. Answers questions specifically put to him: the dates of his time at Cambridge, and attendance at Wittgenstein's lectures; can only remember [Con] Drury and Professor Moore specifically among regular attendants; cannot answer the third question; did not take notes of the lectures, and now does not have any memory of the contents. General recollections of Wittgenstein: learnt 'very little' from him as a philosopher, but he was a good friend. Discussion of a Sanskrit word for friend, 'suhrid'. Wittgenstein obtained a sleeping drug for Bose from Switzerland when he was suffering from insomnia, and used to meet him out of each of his morning Part II exams, go for lunch with him, then walk him back for the afternoon paper. His first encounter with Wittgenstein was at a meeting of the Moral Science Club in the Lent Term of 1929 at which Bose read a paper on the nature of moral judgement and Wittgenstein asked several questions. Sometimes they would go for walks together, sometimes visit each other (Wittgenstein was at the time living in rooms in Maurice Dobb's house). Anecdote about Braithwaite asking Wittgenstein what title he wished to give his lectures, to which Wittgenstein answered, 'The subject of the lectures would be philosophy. What else can be the title of the lectures but Philosophy'.
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