J. E. R. Staddon As understood by Skinner, ascribing dignity to individuals involves giving them credit for their actions. To say "Skinner is brilliant" means that Skinner is an originating force. If Skinner's determinist theory is right, he is merely the focus of his environment. He is not an originating force and he had no choice in saying the things he said or doing the things he did. Skinner's environment and genetics both allowed and compelled him to write his book. Similarly, the environment and genetic potentials of the advocates of freedom and dignity cause them to resist the reality that their own activities are deterministically grounded. J. E. R. Staddon has argued the compatibilist position;Staddon, J. E. R. 2014. The New Behaviorism (2nd ed.). Skinner's determinism is not in any way contradictory to traditional notions of reward and punishment, as he believed.Staddon, J. E. R. 1995. "On Responsibility and Punishment." The Atlantic Monthly 1995(2):88–94.Staddon, J. E. R. 1999. "On Responsibility in Science and Law." Social Philosophy and Policy 16:146–74.
J. E. R. Staddon As understood by Skinner, ascribing dignity to individuals involves giving them credit for their actions. To say "Skinner is brilliant" means that Skinner is an originating force If Skinner's determinist theory is right, he is merely the focus of his environment. He is not an originating force and he had no choice in saying the things he said or doing the things he did. Skinner's environment and genetics both allowed and compelled him to write his book. Similarly, the environment and genetic potentials of the advocates of freedom and dignity cause them to resist the reality that their own activities are deterministically grounded. J. E. R. Staddon has argued the compatibilist position;Staddon, J. E. R. 2014. The New Behaviorism (2nd ed.). Skinner's determinism is not in any way contradictory to traditional notions of reward and punishment, as he believed.Staddon, J. E. R. 1995. "On Responsibility and Punishment." The Atlantic Monthly 1995(2):88–94.Staddon, J. E. R. 1999. "On Responsibility in Science and Law." Social Philosophy and Policy 16:146–74.