Given the critical comments in this thread concerning the veracity of Laura Slater's book _Opening Skinner's Box_, I thought people might like to read a sample of her work. The Boston Globe has reprinted an adapted version of her essay on Harry Harlow at: http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/081/focus/Monkey_love+.shtml
(The Boston Globe is usually Beth's beat, and I hope I'm not stepping on her toes by posting this or, even worse, repeating what she's already said. Actually, the url comes from a posting from Ben Harris on Chris Green's Cheiron list.) >From what I know of Harlow, her essay seems accurate, and it is written in a lively style. I've also received a note from a correspondent who tells me he does book reviews for _New Scientist_ (our TIPS posts really get around, it seems), and he says Slater didn't describe the story about Deborah in a Skinner box as true. He says Slater prefaced it with the phrase "what we presume to know", and she ended by saying "It all seems, without a doubt, good intentioned, if not downright noble, and sets Skinner firmly in humane waters". He speculates that perhaps Deborah didn't actually read Slater's book (and, of course, we didn't either, shame on us). Of course that still leaves the accusations of misquotes and misrepresentations in her book made by people who should know about such things. On the other hand, another Deborah (Blum, this time) has recently come out with a well-received biography of Harlow, handy for basic facts, and perhaps Slater allowed the Globe to publish her Harlow chapter as one of the safer choices, unlikely to attract unfavourable criticism. And, of course, Harlow is dead, and can't complain, unlike some of the others quoted in her book (but I do recognize her Harlow quotes as accurate, outrageous though they may be). BTW, our _New Scientist_ also expressed wonderment at our lack of concern for libel laws, and he may have a point, if our posts are readily available to the teeming Googlized millions. And it seems they are. I had another private post yesterday from a Dr. Capozzoli who somehow noticed that I cited his 1995 paper on crossed laterality in a post not too long ago. He told me he still thinks he's right. Stephen Stephen Black Department of Psychology Bishop's University when we're not on strike Lennoxville, Quebec J1M 1Z7 [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
