Themes in Behavior Theory and Philosophy

Abstract

Psychology made its famous break from philosophy in 1879 and since then has faired well as an independent discipline. There remains, however, considerable evidence of its philosophical roots in many of the issues and problems that even its most hard-nosed scientists tackle. B. F. Skinner is a case in point. Even though his work exemplifies the effective application of scientific methods to the subject matter of psychology, much of his extrapolation and interpretation led inevitably to philosophical questions about both science and human behavior, whether observed in a clinic, a laboratory, or everyday settings. Some questions relate to the nature of scientific practices, others to the nature of psychological constructs and interpretations, and still others to the relations between psychology and other disciplines, both in the sciences and in the humanities. All of these topics are incorporated under the general heading of this book’s title, Behavior Theory and Philosophy The chapters that follow consider aspects of one or more of the preceding questions, addressed by scientists and practitioners trained and functioning within the scientific traditions associated with behavior analysis.