Paper Summary:

Behaviorism, as described by philosopher B.F. Skinner in his work "Walden Two", is a scientific manner of understanding human actions as based on a certain set of principles. The paper examines Skinner's view that all actions are the result of a series of determined factors in "competition" with each other. Whichever factor proves to be dominant will determine the final action. The paper argues that while these factors can be "charted" to determine the probable end results of human action, it should be noted that these factors are not always totally predictable. It shows that Skinner, though, would simply argue that this lack of predictability was merely a technical problem that would eventually be resolved.

From the Paper:

"Finally there exists the problem of ultimate control. His whole concept of society is to be based on regulated planning to produce favorable situations, but who or what would be responsible for this centralized control. Skinner proposes that the "charlatans" who now have control over certain segmented areas will be replaced when all is "united", but he does not suggest who it is that will replace them. Obviously someone or something must be in overall command of this series of controls, but on what basis will this be decided."

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