Ideas Matter: Walden Two and radical behaviourism

On 20 June 2020, Battle of Ideas Charity hosted The Academy
Online, a series of talks and book discussions exploring the
theme Psychology and Democracy.


This podcast features the introductory talk to a discussion on
the 1948 novel ‘Walden Two’ by BF Skinner, an American
psychologist, author, inventor and social philosopher. Skinner
liked to describe his own philosophy as 'radical behaviorism' and
the novel has gained renewed attention alongside interest in
social psychology and behavioural science at a time of a
pandemic, when many are keen to understand the factors that shape
our decisions and the extent to which we can say we are we
conscious agents who determine our own actions.


The lecturer is Dr Helene Guldberg, a lecturer in psychology at
the Open University and author of two books; ‘Reclaiming
Childhood: freedom and play in an age of fear’ and ‘Just Another
Ape?’.


THE ACADEMY 2020: PSYCHOLOGY AND DEMOCRACY The Academy Online was
a mixture of lectures and seminars offering an opportunity to
place contemporary events in a historical and philosophical
context. The full programme and some background reading can be
found at theboi.co.uk/the-academy-online…logy-and-democracy


THE ACADEMY In the context of today’s instrumental approaches to
knowledge, The Academy summer school is a modest attempt to
demonstrate the value of scholarship, and of the worth of the
university as a place of free enquiry dedicated to the pursuit of
truth.


DONATING TO THE BOI CHARITY The BOI charity is committed to
continuing to host discussion and debates throughout this period
when society is restricted by measures to tackle coronavirus. In
order to realise events such as the Academy Online, none of our
staff are furloughed and instead remain working. If you can, then
please consider a donation, small or large.
Visit: theboi.co.uk/donate


IDEAS MATTER PODCAST Ideas Matter is a podcast that takes the
most important issues of our times and explores the ideas and
intellectual trends that have shaped where we are today.


You can subscribe and listen to Ideas Matter on Apple Podcasts,
Podbean, Spotify or SoundCloud. For full details of all episodes,
visit the podcast page on our website


Keep up-to-date with Ideas Matter and all the initiatives
organised by the Battle of Ideas charity by following us on
Twitter (@theboi_uk) and on Facebook (battleofideas).