The Behaviorisms of Skinner and Quine: Genesis, Development, and Mutual Influence

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

    Abstract

    B. F. Skinner and W. V. Quine, arguably the two most influential proponents of behaviorism in mid-twentieth century psychology and philosophy, are often considered brothers in arms. They were close friends, they had remarkably parallel careers, and they both identified as behaviorists. Yet, surprisingly little is known about the relation between the two. How did Skinner and Quine develop their varieties of behaviorism? In what ways did they affect each other? And how similar are their behaviorisms to begin with? In this paper, I shed new light on the relation between Skinner and Quine by infusing the debate with a wide range of new and previously unexamined evidence from the personal and academic archives of Skinner and Quine.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)707-730
    Number of pages24
    JournalJournal of the History of Philosophy
    Volume57
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2019

    Keywords

    • Chomsky
    • Quine
    • REFLEX
    • Skinner
    • Verbal Behavior
    • Word and Object
    • behaviorism
    • meaning
    • operationism
    • phenomenalism

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