On Thu, 07 Mar 2013 04:30:06 -0800, Michael Britt wrote:
You make some excellent points Paul. As always with technology, we must separate the "what might be cool/fun" from the "what is worth the time to do". In reflecting on this project I'll say that I learned the most from doing two things: a) listening to and watching Skinner b) editing the audio from these interviews down to the essential few minutes where Skinner expresses his ideas best
I have a suggestion that might make such an assignment more realistic and help students to develop skills that are usable in the real world. For an assignment on Skinner, take a class and randomly assign them into one of three groups: (1) Try to provide a balanced perspective of Skinner's work and writings that balance what could be called his "pro-humanist" and "anti-humanist" tendencies. (2) Locate and present materials that support the assertion that Skinner was a fearless pro-humanist and should not be viewed as an anti-humanist or worse. (3) Locate and present materials that support the assertion that Skinner's work and writing promoted an agenda that (a) supported the established power structure and (b) provided tools for the "treatment" of "non-conformists/miscreants". One such source is the movie version of Anthony Burgess' "A Clockwork Orange" which, through historical accident, is associated with Skinner's "Beyond Freedom and Dignity". For example, see Burgess' comments in the New Yorker: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/06/04/120604fa_fact_burgess Quoting from the article, Burgess says: |What the writer was trying to say was that it is better to be |bad of one's free will than to be good through scientific |brainwashing. B. F. Skinner's book "Beyond Freedom and |Dignity" came out at the very time that "A Clockwork Orange" |first appeared on the screen, ready to demonstrate the advantages |of what we may call beneficent brainwashing. Given the right |positive inducements, Skinner argues, we shall all become |better citizens, submissive to a state that has the good of the |community at heart. That the writer considers any kind of |conditioning wrong must be accounted, he supposes, to the |strength of Catholic tradition in which he was reared. The key point of this exercise is to help students to develop the ability to present or "spin" a situation to achieve a particular effect in the reader/listener. In real life, the manner of presentation is either implicit (e.g., when a person argues for a particular position) or explicit (e.g., the producers and directors of the programs on the Fox News channel probably systematically emphasize and frame stories very differently from, say, the producers and directors of the PBS program "Frontline"). In real life, the students supervisors and bosses will want to have a "particular" view of a person or an event and, if the student wants to keep his/her job, should know how to comply. Back when I was in Catholic boys high school, I was in the debate club for a while and there I learned that one should (a) know all of the facts, interpretations, and implications of different positions, and (b) be able to argue EITHER position because one would never know which side of a position one would have to defend (which has the corollary "Never ask a question that you don't know the answer to). The old PBS TV program "The Advocates" provided a forum showing how reasoned debate could be conducted as well as providing models of how to be pro- or con- an issue. For those who are unfamiliar with The Advocates", some of their episodes can be accessed here: http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog?f[pbcore_pbcoreTitle_series_s][]=Advocates Unfortunately, there were no episodes involving Skinner though there is one with Thomas Szasz arguing about the insanity defense; see: http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog?f[pbcore_pbcoreTitle_series_s][]=Advocates&f[person_cv][]=Szasz%2C+Thomas There is a couple of episodes with "Everyone's Favorite Supreme Court Justice" Antonin Scalia, of course, pre-Supreme; see: http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog?f[pbcore_pbcoreTitle_series_s][]=Advocates&f[person_cv][]=Scalia%2C+Antonin NOTE: Michael Dukakis often served as the moderator but this was before he ran for President. However, one can see Skinner in what might charitably called a "debate" (another way to characterize it is "A Couple of Privileged White Guys Sitting Around Talking") on William Buckley's "Firing Line" program. DVDs are available from various sources but here is Tower.com's (yes, there are still around) link: http://www.tower.com/firing-line-with-william-f-buckley-jr-b-f-skinner-dvd/wapi/117071230 Skinner was on at least one other time on "Firing Line". The shows may also be available from Utube and other sources. In summary, what one might consider to be the essential B.F. Skinner might be importantly influenced by the "eye of the beholder". Humans tend to be complex and contradictory beings and no one should judge a man (or people) by their cover. -Mike Palij New York University [email protected] P.S. Hey Britt, were you at EPA? --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=24179 or send a blank email to leave-24179-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
