B.F. Skinner's Walden Two

We explore the utopia of Walden Two from the perspective of its protagonist and narrator, Professor Burris. While Burris is initially skeptical, he is also unfulfilled and dissatisfied with his current occupation in life. Therefore, Burris is not a truly reliable narrator. While he is at Walden Two, he becomes increasingly attracted to the possibilities of a true science of behavior, including the design of personality, talents, and other abilities. The potential for such a science to rob human beings of dignity and individuality is great. Because he is unhappy with his own life, BurrisÆ attraction for such a science remains suspect.

The self-confidence and arrogance expressed by Frazier and his argumentative nature actually add to the readerÆs ability to judge Walden Two in a more critical manner. This is because FrazierÆs arrogance, smug demeanor, and argumentative nat

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ctive pursuit of leisure not work. We see this most with Burris, who is unfulfilled in his university job and looks forward to more leisure time when he leaves his position, in order to have ôàtime to write, time to think, time to evaluate. Time to plan,ö (Skinner 9). FIVE Experimentation is a very significant aspect of life at Walden Two, especially since Frazier views the entire community as a laboratory for experimentation. The city Planners and Managers use experiments to help them fashion a science that will result in ôidealö human beings. The Planners design different experiments that are meant to demonstrate how to develop an ideal group of human beings. These experiments are significant, for they ôàmake possible a genuine science of human behaviorö the main goal of the overall ôexperimentö of Walden Two (Skinner 274). Experimentation is also important in child rearing, for it raises children who exhibit the ideals considered ôidealö by the Planners. SIX The children in Walden Two are reared and educated to make ôàcontributions to the health, leisure, happiness, and amusement of the communityö (157). Negative reinforcement or punishment is abandoned in favor of positive conditioning or reward as the means of educating
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Approximate Word count = 1348
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page)

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