Determinismo e responsabilidade moral na obra de B. F. Skinner
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Data
2018-03-29
Autores
Baggio, Bruno Sterza
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Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
Resumo
As concepções de causa do comportamento humano estão intimamente ligadas com as práticas sociais. O determinismo é uma doutrina filosófica amplamente adotada dentro do Behaviorismo Radical e presente na obra de seu fundador, B. F. Skinner. Contudo, críticos alegam que quando o determinismo é aplicado a assuntos morais, este não permite a responsabilização do indivíduo por suas ações. Os conceitos tradicionais de liberdade esbarram na postura científica do behaviorismo, uma vez que não levam em consideração as causas do comportamento ao afirmar que o indivíduo possa deliberar livremente sobre suas ações sem dependência de eventos externos a ele. O objetivo deste trabalho é conceituar e discutir os conceitos de determinismo e responsabilidade moral na obra de Skinner. Para tanto, um percurso arqueológico guiado por um método de leitura epistemológico hermenêutico foi utilizado para investigação da obra do autor. Como objetos de estudo desse trabalho, foram selecionados os textos de Skinner posteriores à década de 50 até o final da sua produção, com a adição do livro Walden II. A análise realizada sugere uma defesa de noções deterministas na obra de Skinner que, contudo, são também ambíguas. Há afirmações passíveis de serem conciliadas com concepções de ciência indeterministas que compartilham espaço na obra do autor. Foi também identificada uma ampla rejeição ao conceito tradicional de responsabilidade individual na sua obra, sem a construção explícita de uma nova definição. Ao invés de privilegiar as teses relacionadas à liberdade, o autor demonstra como a ciência poderia participar da melhora significativa das condições de vida do homem. A análise permitiu estabelecer conexões com teses alternativas de responsabilidade de matriz pragmática. Uma definição de responsabilidade convergente com a obra atenta para o contexto em que esta é formada e a utilidade de impor contingências para o comportamento individual.
Cause conceptions of human behavior are intimately linked with social practices. Determinism is a philosophical doctrine widely adopted in Radical Behaviorism and present in the work of its founder, B. F. Skinner. However, critics claim that when determinism is applied to moral issues, it does not allow individual accountability for their actions. The traditional concepts of freedom are averse to the scientific position of behaviorism, since they do not take into account the causes of behavior by affirming that the individual can deliberate freely on his actions without dependence on external events. The objective of this work is to conceptualize and discuss the concepts of determinism and moral responsibility in Skinner's work. For that, an archaeological approach guided by a hermeneutical epistemological reading method was used. As an object of study of this work, the texts of Skinner were selected after the 50's until the end of its production, with the addition of the book Walden II. The analysis suggests a defense of determinist notions in Skinner's work, which, however, are also ambiguous. There are statements that can be reconciled with indeterministic conceptions of science that share space in the author's work. A deep rejection of the traditional concept of individual responsibility in his work was also identified, without the explicit formation of a new definition. Instead of focusing on the themes related to freedom, the author demonstrates how science could participate in the significant improvement of man's living conditions. The analysis allowed to establish connections with alternative theses of responsibility of pragmatic conception. A definition of responsibility compatible with Skinner's work alert to the context in which it is formed and the utility of imposing contingencies on individual behavior.
Cause conceptions of human behavior are intimately linked with social practices. Determinism is a philosophical doctrine widely adopted in Radical Behaviorism and present in the work of its founder, B. F. Skinner. However, critics claim that when determinism is applied to moral issues, it does not allow individual accountability for their actions. The traditional concepts of freedom are averse to the scientific position of behaviorism, since they do not take into account the causes of behavior by affirming that the individual can deliberate freely on his actions without dependence on external events. The objective of this work is to conceptualize and discuss the concepts of determinism and moral responsibility in Skinner's work. For that, an archaeological approach guided by a hermeneutical epistemological reading method was used. As an object of study of this work, the texts of Skinner were selected after the 50's until the end of its production, with the addition of the book Walden II. The analysis suggests a defense of determinist notions in Skinner's work, which, however, are also ambiguous. There are statements that can be reconciled with indeterministic conceptions of science that share space in the author's work. A deep rejection of the traditional concept of individual responsibility in his work was also identified, without the explicit formation of a new definition. Instead of focusing on the themes related to freedom, the author demonstrates how science could participate in the significant improvement of man's living conditions. The analysis allowed to establish connections with alternative theses of responsibility of pragmatic conception. A definition of responsibility compatible with Skinner's work alert to the context in which it is formed and the utility of imposing contingencies on individual behavior.
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Palavras-chave
Behaviorismo, Determinismo, Responsabilidade, Skinner, Burrhus Frederic, 1904-1990, Behaviorism, Determinism, Responsibility