In 1955, the APA was seeking a Rockefeller Foundation grant to support projects with “direct social implications.” Harvard philosopher Van Quine was asked to advise the APA:

Would projects on “Philosophical Foundations of Democracy” and “Oriental Philosophy” be fitting? 1/3

Quine disliked the democracy topic: “Just because Nazism had its Rosenberg and Communism its Engels etc., let’s not feel we have to follow suit… A project of justifying the free world by long-haired punditry would serve no propagandistic purpose… but only sow mistrust.)” 2/3

And Quine was no less dismissive of Asian philosophy: “I’ve seen nothing to make me expect philosophical illumination from a study of oriental philosophy, comparable to what might be gained by devoting the same amount of energy to independent cogitation.”

Hello. I thought you’d possibly find Quine’s reactions of interest. @BryanVanNorden, @BrianLeiter, @DailyNousEditor, @jasonintrator, @RobertTalisse, @lastpositivist, @kvallier, @philosnews, @newsphilosophy