Title: Walden Two
Author: B.F. Skinner
ISBN: 002411510X
Location: 1B
Keywords: utopia, behaviorism, psychology, social experiment, community, ethics, freedom, behavior modification, social engineering, dystopia, science fiction, societal structure, human nature, collectivism, individualism, philosophy, reform, communal living, utopian novel, B.F. Skinner
Synopsis: In Walden Two, B.F. Skinner envisions a fictional utopian society founded on the principles of behavioral psychology. The story begins with Professor Burris, a psychology professor, who, along with a group of friends, visits Walden Two, a remote community that operates on carefully engineered principles of behavior modification and social organization. Founded by Frazier, a charismatic psychologist, Walden Two seeks to provide an alternative to the competitive, individualistic culture of the outside world.
Through guided tours and philosophical discussions, the visitors learn about Walden Two’s social and economic practices, including a flexible work system, communal child-rearing, and an emphasis on collective happiness over individual pursuits. The community is structured to maximize cooperation, reduce stress, and encourage ethical behavior, with the aim of creating a harmonious and sustainable way of life.
As the visitors question and critique the system, Skinner explores fundamental questions about free will, ethics, and the extent to which human behavior can (and should) be controlled. Walden Two invites readers to consider the possibilities and limitations of a society based on scientific principles, ultimately challenging traditional ideas about freedom, community, and human nature. The novel serves as a thought-provoking examination of behavioral psychology’s potential role in shaping a utopian or dystopian future, depending on one’s perspective.
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