The Book Depository Beyond Freedom and Dignity by B. F. Skinner
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Price: £17.99
Brand: The Book Depository
Description: Beyond Freedom and Dignity : Paperback : Hackett Publishing Co, Inc : 9780872206274 : 0872206270 : 15 Mar 2002 : In this profound and profoundly controversial work, a landmark of 20th-century thought originally published in 1971, B. F. Skinner makes his definitive statement about humankind and society. Insisting that the problems of the world today can be solved only by dealing much more effectively with human behavior, Skinner argues that our traditional concepts of freedom and dignity must be sharply revised. They have played an important historical role in our struggle against many kinds of tyranny, he acknowledges, but they are now responsible for the futile defense of a presumed free and autonomous individual; they are perpetuating our use of punishment and blocking the development of more effective cultural practices. Basing his arguments on the massive results of the experimental analysis of behavior he pioneered, Skinner rejects traditional explanations of behavior in terms of states of mind, feelings, and other mental attributes in favor of explanations to be sought in the interaction between genetic endowment and personal history. He argues that instead of promoting freedom and dignity as personal attributes, we should direct our attention to the physical and social environments in which people live. It is the environment rather than humankind itself that must be changed if the traditional goals of the struggle for freedom and dignity are to be reached. Beyond Freedom and Dignity urges us to reexamine the ideals we have taken for granted and to consider the possibility of a radically behaviorist approach to human problems--one that has appeared to some incompatible with those ideals, but which envisions the building of a world in which humankind can attain its greatest possible achievements. The Book Depository Beyond Freedom and Dignity by B. F. Skinner - shop the best deal online on thebookbug.co.uk
Category: Books
Merchant: The Book Depository
Product ID: 9780872206274
MPN: 0872206270
GTIN: 9780872206274
Author: Richard Porter
Rating: 5
Review: Looking for a logical explanation of human behaviour? Then look no further! This is the book for you. Skinner's mechanism of causality is a natural progression from the theory of natural selection i.e. consequences (that is, events that occur AFTER a behaviour) during an individual's lifetime are what shape their behaviour (not feelings or personality). Layman explanations of behaviour - e.g. "inner states" or "feelings" - are by-products of the contingencies in our environment. Immediate sources of control should be looked at from a larger context of multiple contingencies and freedom is not just about escaping punishment; it is also avoiding reward systems that have deferred aversive consequences (e.g. gambling & other forms of coercion). A great read.
Author: Teri Guilfoyle
Rating: 1
Review: omg far to complicted for me
