Editing B. F. Skinner (section)

== Contributions to social theory ==
Skinner is popularly known mainly for his books ''[[Walden Two]]'' (1948) and ''[[Beyond Freedom and Dignity]],'' (for which he made the cover of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine).<ref>{{cite magazine |title=B.F. Skinner Sep. 20, 1971 |url=http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19710920,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930190635/http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19710920,00.html  |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref> The former describes a fictional "experimental community"<ref>Skinner, B. F. 1968. "The Design of Experimental Communities." Pp. 271–75 in ''[[International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences]]'' 16, edited by S. Darity. New York.</ref> in 1940s United States. The productivity and happiness of citizens in this community is far greater than in the outside world because the residents practice scientific social planning and use operant conditioning in raising their children.

''Walden Two'', like [[Henry David Thoreau|Thoreau]]'s ''[[Walden]]'', champions a lifestyle that does not support war, or foster competition and social strife. It encourages a lifestyle of minimal consumption, rich social relationships, personal happiness, satisfying work, and leisure.<ref>Ramsey, Richard David. 1979. "Morning Star: The Values-Communication of Skinner's 'Walden Two'" (Ph.D. dissertation). Troy, NY: [[Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute]]. – via University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, MI. (Ramsey attempts to analyze ''Walden Two'', ''Beyond Freedom and Dignity'', and other Skinner works in the context of Skinner's life; lists over 500 sources.)</ref> In 1967, [[Kat Kinkade]] and others founded the [[Twin Oaks Community]], using'' Walden Two'' as a blueprint. The community still exists and continues to use the Planner-Manager system and other aspects of the community described in Skinner's book, though [[behavior modification]] is not a community practice.<ref>{{cite book|author=Kuhlman, Hilke|title=Living Walden Two: B. F. Skinner's Behaviorist Utopia and Experimental Communities|date=Oct 1, 2010|publisher=University of Illinois Press|page=87}}</ref>

In ''Beyond Freedom and Dignity'', Skinner suggests that a technology of behavior could help to make a better society. We would, however, have to accept that an [[autonomous agent]] is not the driving force of our actions. Skinner offers alternatives to punishment, and challenges his readers to use science and modern technology to construct a better society.