Recent Issues. Chapter 11: A New Preface to Beyond Freedom and Dignity. Quote 2

Post author:B. F. Skinner Foundation
Post published:March 15, 2019
Post category:Skinner's Quote of the Day

“Who would control human behavior, and who would control the controllers? Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who is to control the authorities? I think that that question can be answered by translating quis as what rather than who.” (p. 114)

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SKINNER'S QUOTE OF THE DAY

Verbal Behavior: Extended Edition. Chapter 4: Verbal Behavior under the Control of Verbal Stimuli. Quote 16
Echoic responses are useful and reinforced when they serve as fill-ins. In answer to the question What will happen to the international situation during the next few weeks? the student may begin During the next few weeks, the international situation…, which may be purely echoic but, especially if the situation demands speed, self-reinforcing if it provides a breathing space for the composition of the rest of the sentence. (p. 57)
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“Who would control human behavior, and who would control the controllers? Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who is to control the authorities? I think that that question can be answered by translating quis as what rather than who.” (p. 114)

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