Box 2

Gabbay to Montgomery - Correspondence

Last updated: 2018-06-29 12:31:17

11. The Prior–Gabbay correspondence

Eighteen letters from Dov Gabbay to ANP (06.10.68-14.08.69, four are undated). These letters contain various logical matters, especially notes on Gabbay's version of quantificational 'Kt' (= 'minimal tense logic' with quantifiers), and suggestions for extensions of K4. Of particular interest is a letter of 02.07.69, wherein Gabbay raises the question of relativistic tense logic.

INFO (Per Hasle): The problem of the 'now' as posed by relativity theory was a recurrent concern of Prior's. See [Øhrstrøm & Hasle 1995], Chapter 2.7; see also the Kripke-correspondence/Box 4.)

Eight letters from ANP (02.10.68-21.07.69, two are undated). Of particular interest is Prior's letter of 08.07.69, wherein he replies to Gabbay's question concerning relativistic tense logic.

12. The (Prior-) Peter Geach correspondence

NOTE (Per Hasle): One important aspect of this correspondence is Geach's keeping Prior informed with respect to new developments in tense logic 1957-58, when Prior was back in New Zealand. In the preface to 'Past, Present and Future' 1967a, Prior wrote: "...I am grateful to Mr. Geach ...and to Mr. E. J. Lemmon, for a copious correspondence which kept me in touch with new work in the logic of time and modality when I was back in New Zealand [1957-58]".

A large number of letters and manuscripts from Peter Geach to Prior, from 1957 to 1969.

Two letters from Prior to Geach (1967 and 1968).

13. The C.L. Hamblin correspondence

NOTE (Per Hasle): The Hamblin correspondence contains, in spite of its relatively small size, some of the most important exchanges of ideas in Prior's correspondence (especially with respect to the implicative structure of tenses); see [Øhrstrøm & Hasle 1993, p. 28 ff.]. See also Hamblin/Box 15, which contains a number of papers by Hamblin, sent to Prior, especially the relatively late (ca. 1965) and probably unpublished manuscript Hamblin, C.L., The Logic of Tenses. MS. 20 p.(item 16).

Eight letters from Hamblin 1957–1966:

- 07.12.57: letter together with Hamblin's review for 'Australasian Journal of Philosophy' of Prior's 'Time and Modality' 1957a. (See [Hamblin 1958, Secondary Literature]).

- 18.04.58: The implicative structure of 30 distinct tenses.

- 19.10.61: discussion of various formulae.

- 06.07.65: implicative structure of tenses ("The Bird's Nest").

Cf. [Øhrstrøm & Hasle 1993, esp. p. 30.]
--- Per Hasle

- The remaining letters: 13.08.65, 14.11.65, 14.03.66, 31.05.66 discuss various minor logical matters.

14. The J. A. W. Kamp correspondence

A few letters from Kamp, 1967–1969.

15. The Lejewski correspondence

Lejewski was at Manchester Philosophy Department; he and Prior became colleagues when Prior moved to Manchester in 1959.
--- Per Hasle

Fifteen letters 30.11.1954–01.10.68. The first ten letters (1954-56) contain discussion of (Prior's work on) Lesniewski (some relevant publications are: 1955f, 1956e, 1962j, 1965a). The remaining five letters contain comments on various logical matters.

16. The John Lemmon correspondence

NOTE (Per Hasle): Two important aspects of this correspondence are 1) John Lemmon keeping Prior up to date on developments in tense logic 1957-58, when Prior was back in New Zealand, 2) Lemmon's work on Prior's Q-predicate. In the preface to 'Past, Present and Future' 1967a, Prior wrote: "...I am grateful to Mr. Geach ...and to Mr. E. J. Lemmon, for a copious correspondence which kept me in touch with new work in the logic of time and modality when I was back in New Zealand [1957-58]". (See also the Geach-correspondence/Box 2).

A large number of letters from 1957-66 (John Lemmon to Prior), mainly on logic.

17. The John Mackie correspondence

A large number of letters from Mackie, 1951-63.

NOTE (Per Hasle): Prior and Mackie first met at a philosophy conference in Sydney 1951, cf. [Kenny 1970, p. 332]. Prior often discussed philosophy with Mackie, who may well have influenced Prior's views on religion (in the direction of an agnostic attitude; see [Hasle 1997b]

his also includes these papers/drafts (all of which are in all likelihood written by Mackie himself):

• The Master Argument of Diodorus Cronus T (4 p.). (Disputes Prior's interpretation).
• An Imaginary Discussion on Time and Modality T (4 p.). (A "simulated" discussion involving Prior and Mackie).
• Comments on ANP's 'Three-valued Logic and Future Contingents' T (9 p.), (i.e. Prior's 1953d).
• 'Three-valued Logical Calculi and Their Interpretations' T (13 p.), (also concerned with Prior's 1953d.).

18. The Storrs McCall correspondence

Thirteen letters from McCall (10.12.57–28.01.68), plus several papers/drafts.
See also McCall/box 16, and McCall, Seventh folder/box 4.

The first letter indicates that the paper 'Tenses and Logic: A Troubled Trialogue' (a fictitious discussion between Strawson, Quine, and Prior) has been made up by Storrs McCall. Ensuing letters contain various logical matters, and some interesting comments on PPF (1967a); see also [McCall 1968].

INFO (Per Hasle): In a letter of 19.10.67 McCall asks ANP: 1-"Was it in fact your visit to California in 1965 that sparked off the renaissance in tense-logic?"  2-"...why you abandoned the three-valued approach to tense-logic, and instead took up 'Ockhamist' and 'Peircean' solutions?" Prior's answers to these questions would be interesting to have. But there is little doubt that the answer to the first question must be 'yes'.

The papers/drafts are:

• Storrs McCall: 'Tenses and Logic: A Troubled Trialogue', T (26 p.), (a fictitious discussion between Strawson, Quine, and Prior).
• Storrs McCall: A Calculus for the Temporal Theory of Truth, T (6 p.), enclosed with letter dated 9.12.66.
• Storrs McCall: On What it Means to be Future, T (2 p.).
• Storrs McCall: a comment on a reply from ANP to the 'Troubled Trialogue', T (5 p.), (see above).
• A proposed list of papers concerning Polish Logic 1910-1939

Mary Prior writes: "I think McCall edited a book which may have been based on this [list]". (Evidently this must be: McCall, Storrs (editor): 1967, Polish Logic, 1920-1939, Clarendon Press, Oxford.)
--- Per Hasle

19. The C. Meredith correspondence

A large number of letters from 1952-68 (C. Meredith to Prior), on personal as well as logical matters (especially modal logic).

20. The Prior-H.A. Montgomery correspondence

Nine letters from Prior to H.A. Montgomery, 1960-69