Abstract

This is the full-chapter version of an earlier conference paper of the same name. It is being published in a book on New Perspectives on Neurath's work which includes the entire 1940-45 Neurath-Carnap correspondence as an Appendix, and so the article assumes some familiarity with Neurath’s reputation and philosophical work. My chapter addresses Neurath's version of functionalism and how he applied certain ideas about design in 1940s Britain, during and after his internment on the Isle of Man between 1940-1941 and in talks, papers and correspondence from this period. It does not focus on the Isotype institute, which would usually be considered his principal intervention in design, but on his commentary on everyday objects and practices. In particular I focus on four objects – tennis courts, fireplaces, chairs and shoes – and through these elaborate some of the connections between Neurath’s ideas about the design of everyday life, and the significance of everyday practices, and his logical empiricism.