Beyond Freedom and Dignity

When faced with problems, humans consult science and technology to create solutions. However, Skinner claims that science and technology are causing new issues, many of which will impact future generations. For the sake of humanity, people must repair the damage they have caused, and changes in human behavior must take priority. As such, Skinner calls for a technology of human behavior, which would foster efficient social change so humans could better address social and environmental dilemmas.

According to Skinner, social sciences have not evolved as much as physical sciences. While ancient scientific ideas are now obsolete, ancient philosophers like Plato and Aristotle are still considered relevant. This lack of scientific development has stunted governmental, educational, and economic progress. Although human behavior is complex, the scientific process is adapted to studying complex natural phenomena, and it can be used to understand human behavior and enact social change. Skinner suggests that scientific principles have not been applied to human behavior because behavior is often separated from the body and attributed to an “indwelling agent,” or free will.

The need for social change is expressed in emotional terms: “[W]e need to change attitudes toward children, overcome pride in size of family or in sexual potency, build some sense of responsibility toward offspring” (10).