Science and Human Behavior

"The methods of science have been enormously successful wherever they have been tried. Let us then apply them to human affairs. The conception of the individual which emerges from a scientific analysis is distasteful to most of those who have been strongly affected by democratic philosophies. When we turn to what science has to offer, however, we do not find very comforting support for the traditional western point of view. The hypothesis that man is not free is essential to the application of scientific method to the study of human behavior" (B. F. Skinner).

Reseñas:

• "This is an important book, exceptionally well written, and logically consistent with the basic premise of the unitary nature of science. Many students of society and culture would take violent issue with most of the things that Skinner has to say, but even those who disagree most will find his a stimulating book", Samuel M. Strong, The American Journal of Sociology.

• "This is a remarkable book —remarkable in that it presents a strong, consistent, and all but exhaustive case for a natural science of human behavior... [It] ought to be... valuable for those whose preferences lie with, as well as those whose preferences stand against, a behavioristic approach to human activity", Harry Prosch, Ethics.

Puntos destacados del índice:

• The possibility of a science of human behavior.

• The analysis of behavior.

• The individual as a whole.

• The behavior of people in groups.

• Controlling agencies.

• The control of human behavior.