Science and Human Behavior

Examine how Science and Human Behavior reframes the age-old debate between determinism and free will. How does Skinner use rhetorical devices, examples, and redefinitions to challenge the concept of free will? What are the strengths and limitations of his argument?

Discuss the importance of Skinner’s use of redefinition in shaping reader understanding. For instance, how does the reclassification of concepts like “attention,” “instinct,” or “self-control” challenge everyday language and expose what he regards as “explanatory fictions”? To what extent is this literary strategy persuasive or alienating?

Analyze Skinner’s reliance on metaphor and analogy—such as comparing behavior shaping to a sculptor molding clay. How do these devices make complex scientific concepts accessible to a general audience? What risks might arise from simplifying scientific ideas through figurative language?