Otto Neurath

Building on the success of its well-received hardback predecessor, Otto Neurath:

The Language of the Global Polis tells the story of a long-neglected giant in the
history of the Information Age. Otto Neurath (1882-1945) was a philosopher
who wanted to supersede philosophy, a museum administrator who despised
Otto Neurath
conventional museums, a sociologist who distrusted sociological methods and a The Language of the Global Polis
city planner who was critical of the city. A founder of the Vienna Circle and the
Unity of Science movement, a collaborator of figures as varied as Adolf Loos, Nader Vossoughian
Rudolf Carnap, Cornelis van Eesteren, Gerd Arntz, László Moholy-Nagy and Le
Corbusier, he was profoundly important for a range of disciplines, including
architecture, philosophy, economics, urbanism and design. In this book, author
Nader Vossoughian frames Neurath as a theorist of modernity who sought to NAi Publishers
foster participatory and interactive approaches to social and urban planning. In
the epilogue, Vossoughian also suggests that Neurath’s example might offer us
pragmatic strategies through which to engage the political sphere today. Both
scholarly and accessible, this text offers a new perspective on one of the most
formidable intellectuals of the inter-war period.

‘[Vossoughian] points out that Neurath’s ideas are relevant to the major issues
that we still face today — such as community, democracy, urban planning,
technology, knowledge, and politics.’
— Design Issues

The Language of the Global Polis

Nader Vossoughian
‘[This] book will provoke readers to consider Neurath’s considerable relevance
for people and cities today.

. . . sheds light on Neurath’s less well-known urbanistic efforts. This revision is

unquestionably thought-provoking.’
— Journal of Architectural Education

‘Beautifully illustrated’
— New Statesman

D.A.P./Distributed Art Publishers, Inc.

NAi Publishers

www.naipublishers.nl
Printed and bound in Belgium

ISBN 978-90-5662-798-0

NAi Publishers, Rotterdam

D.A.P./Distributed Art Publishers, Inc., New York
9 789056 627980