Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior

Theoretical and Review Article

Epicurus and B. F. Skinner: In search of the good life

Corresponding Author

Allen Neuringer

[email protected]

Reed College

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Allen Neuringer, Department of Psychology, Reed College, 3203 S. E. Woodstock Blvd., Portland, Oregon 97202. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author

Walter Englert,

Walter Englert

Reed College

Search for more papers by this author

Allen Neuringer,

Corresponding Author

Allen Neuringer

[email protected]

Reed College

Walter Englert,

Walter Englert

Reed College

Search for more papers by this author

First published: 25 November 2016

https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.230

Citations: 5

Allen Neuringer is MacArthur Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Reed College, Portland Oregon.

Walter Englert is the Omar and Althea Hoskins Professor of Classical Studies and Humanities at Reed College.

We dedicate this paper to the life and work of Alan Baron and thank Edward Morris for his helpful critique of a previous version.

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Abstract

This paper examines similarities in the works of Epicurus, an ancient Greek philosopher, and B. F. Skinner, a behavioral psychologist. They both were empiricists who argued in favor of the lawfulness of behavior while maintaining that random events were included within those laws. They both devoted much effort to describing how individuals could live effective, rewarding and pleasurable lives. They both emphasized simple and natural pleasures (or reinforcers) and the importance of combining personal pleasures with actions that benefit friends and community. They both opposed punishment and all aversive measures used by governments and religions to control behaviors. And both created utopias: a real community, The Garden, where Epicurus lived with his followers, and a fictional one, Walden Two, by Skinner. We consider how a combination of the ideas of Epicurus and Skinner can contribute to their common goal of helping people to live better lives.

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Volume107, Issue1

January 2017

Pages 21-33

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