A Theatrical Tribute To Unexpected Science

Published in 1948, 'Walden Two' is a utopian novel written by B.F. Skinner. The story follows Professor Burris and two young men who visit a community called Walden Two, founded by T.E. Frazier. This community operates on principles of behavioral modification, where members are conditioned from an early age to be productive and happy. The community is egalitarian, with a minimal workday, no wages, and a focus on education, entertainment, and communal living. The novel discusses various intellectual topics such as behavioral modification, political ethics, and the common good, highlighting the experimental and adaptive nature of the community's social and economic structures.

In 'Verbal Behavior,' B.F. Skinner presents a detailed functional analysis of verbal behavior, arguing that it can be understood through the principles of operant conditioning. The book, which took over twenty years to complete, was prompted by a challenge from philosopher Alfred North Whitehead to explain verbal behavior within a behaviorist framework. Skinner introduces several key concepts, including mands, tacts, autoclitics, and other operants, to describe how verbal behavior is controlled by environmental factors such as stimuli and reinforcement. He illustrates his thesis with examples from literature, the arts, and sciences, as well as from his own experiences and those of his colleagues and children. The book is divided into five parts and nineteen chapters, providing a thorough examination of verbal behavior without reference to hypothetical mental structures.

In this book, B.F. Skinner argues that the entrenched belief in free will and the moral autonomy of the individual (referred to as 'dignity') hinders the prospect of using scientific methods to modify behavior. Skinner advocates for a radically behaviorist approach, suggesting that instead of promoting freedom and dignity as personal attributes, we should focus on changing the physical and social environments in which people live. He rejects traditional explanations of behavior in favor of explanations based on the interaction between genetic endowment and personal history, and argues against punishment as an ineffective measure of controlling behavior.