Walden Two - Review

Walden Two by B.F. Skinner

Reviewed by

Geoffrey W. Sutton

Walden Two by B.F. Skinner

Walden Two is a utopian novel that presents an experimental community where life is drastically simplified and happiness is obtained through a scientific approach to behavioral engineering. The story begins with two young men, Rogers and Steve, who visit Professor Burris after returning from World War II. They inquire about a man named Frazier and the new society he is trying to build.

Frazier, a former classmate of Burris, has created a community named Walden Two based on principles of behaviorism. This community, home to about a thousand people, operates on the idea that human behavior can be controlled by manipulating contingencies of reinforcements and punishments. The inhabitants live in communal dwellings, eat in common dining spaces, raise their children in a communal nursery, and grow and build much of what they need. The standard workday lasts only four hours, and no one earns wages.

The visitors, including Burris, Rogers, Steve, and their companions, take a tour of Walden Two and experience its lifestyle during a three-day visit. Each visitor reacts differently to the community. Although Castle finds it abhorrent, Burris is intrigued by the concept, and Steve and Mary decide to stay.

Walden Two represents Skinner's vision of a society that has rejected free will and instead embraced a scientific approach to controlling behavior for the greater good. The novel explores the balance between individual freedom and social order, raising questions about the nature of utopia and the role of behavioral science in shaping society.

APA References

Skinner, B. F. (1948). Walden Two. New York: Macmillan.

Sutton, G. W. (2004, January 9). Walden Two-Review. Retrieved from https://suttonreviews.suttong.com/2024/01/walden-two-review.html

I read the book and used Bing Chat to help with the review.

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Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is www.suttong.com

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