Science and Philosophy of Behavior: Selected Papers

Rediscover the science and philosophy of behavior
In Science and Philosophy of Behavior: Selected Papers, distinguished researcher W. M. Baum delivers an expansive collection of incisive papers setting out a new paradigm of thinking about behavior. The book offers only articles that put forward a philosophical and theoretical framework for an effective natural science of behavior. Quantitative analysis is largely avoided (except for a paper on, of all things, avoidance).
Organized into three parts, the author explains the flow-like nature of behavior and its link to evolution, as well as descriptions of a pure form of behaviorism that correct some flaws in B.F. Skinner's seminal works. The book also links behaviorism to anthropology in its final section.
Readers will also find: Fulsome descriptions of the molar nature of behavior and why the molecular view is misguided Re-imaginations of the concept of reinforcement, including considerations of allocation, induction, and contingency Explorations of the links between behavior analysis and Darwinian evolutionary processes
An essential critique―and reorganization―of behavior theory and philosophy, Science and Philosophy of Behavior: Selected Papers is a controversial, fascinating, and eye-opening journey through a half-century of transformational work in the field.
From the Back Cover
A compelling reimagination of the science and philosophy of behavior
Science and Philosophy of Behavior: Selected Papers is an expansive collection of contributed readings that set out an insightful and compelling new paradigm for thinking about behavior. Except for a paper including a quantitative analysis of avoidance, the collection generally avoids quantitative methods in favor of work focusing on creating a philosophical and theoretical framework for the natural science of behavior.
Organized into three parts, the author explains the flow-like characteristics of behavior and how it is linked to evolution. He also describes a pure form of behaviorism that corrects significant flaws in B.F. Skinner’s seminal work. Finally, the selected works link behaviorism to anthropology.
Science and Philosophy of Behavior: Selected Papers explores: Fulsome descriptions of the molar nature of behavior and strong arguments for the position that the molecular view is misguided A reimagination of the concept of reinforcement, including new ways of thinking about allocation, induction, and contingency The links between behavior analysis and Darwinian evolutionary processes
An eye-opening and essential critique of behavior theory and philosophy, this book is a controversial and illuminating reorganization of its subject that spans a half-century of transformational literature in the field.