Book Review: Beyond Freedom and Dignity by B.F. Skinner

In his landmark text, Beyond Freedom and Dignity, B.F. Skinner argues against the notion of free will and individual autonomy. Although B. F. Skinner denies the existence of an actual individual autonomy in the human condition and seems to write off free will as a sort of fantasy, the practice of free will can still take root and flourish in an individual that leads an examined life. Such a person may educate himself or herself to understand the forces in nature and nurture that comprise the human being and a human's specific sets of behaviors.

From this understanding, one may go on to shape one's own behaviors, based upon this knowledge. That is, an educated person leading an examined life realizes that he or she has more choices available and is not a slave to environmental factors and can make the choices necessary in order to lead the type and quality of life he or she desires.

For example, habits can be broken and control/manipulation from others avoided. This last action is vital in avoiding abusive relationships, which are a scourge in American society coast-to-coast and evident in other societies as well; numerous anti-abuse prevention and support groups have arisen to aide in self-understanding.

Skinner states that the notions of freedom and dignity have aided advances in the human condition, but likely hold back technology in the understanding of human behavior.

The human body may be, in fact, a machine and emotions may be checmically based, but the human indidivual is not solely a machine. Judeo-Chrsitian theology (and perhaps others), gaining agreement from growing numbers of scientist, including physicist Paul Davies, tells us that an indidivual comprises a body, a soul made up of mind, thought and emotions; and a spirit distinct from body and soul.

This is a belief held by a majority of Native American and First Nation religions aross the Western Hemispere as well. Skinner may have seen all of this as external locus of control, but either position is difficult to prove via scientific method or subjectively. Thus, there remains a divergence in belief among mankind as to whether free will exists or not. However, I believe that in living a continued examined live, one can become more and more "free" in one's own will and autonomy.

Skinner also writes that the notion of personal achievement is not scientific. However, in the intervening 35+ years since his book was published, the well known body of psychology literature has shown us that personal achievement is necesssary to develop healthy self esteem required to function in interpersonal relationships, groups, and the workplace.

Thus, I believe that personal achievement is necessary, even per scientific method or science, as a positive reinforcement in child rearing and maturation and should not be discarded. It is when competition becomes vicious and obsessive that problems in living occur, in my opinion.

Skinner goes on to state that character is assigned to individuals based on environmental factors. That is, they have no choice and have no input - nothing to do with it whatsover. The literature, especially school based character development curricula, shows us that character is "who you are" and is highly individual, but can be molded somewhat by the family, schools, and religious institutions, among others - even by gangs and one's captor if one is kidnapped (Stockholm Syndrome).

Personally, I do not agree that character is "who you are" and behavior is "what you do" and that the two are mutally exclusive. This is an excuse not to be and do one's best and to do whatever onee wants, without consequences - from painting a lovely portrait and ending cancer to raping an infant (see embedded link). I see a cause-and-effect relationship that who you are influences what you do. Internal stress and evironmental factors can change that outcome and lead to bizarre behaviors in the "best" of us, but behavior and character are linked.

Where Skinner wishes to disregard emotions as somehow useless, I believe that emotions are individual and a major component of the human being that can be understood, used and/or controlled as needed by an educated, alert person. Overall, I disagree with B.F. Skinner and believe that free will and autonomy are possible and that personal achievement and healthily-expressed emotions are necessary for a well-adjusted, productive, fulfilling life.

References

• Davies. P. ( 1992). The Mind of God. UK: Simon & Schuster.
• Skinner. B.F.(1971). Beyond Freedom and Dignity. NY:Knopf.
• Skinner. B.F. (1976 ) Walden Two. NY/NJ:Prentice Hall.

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