We do not choose survival as a value, it chooses us.
B. F. SkinnerRead
The human species took a crucial step forward when its vocal musculature came under operant control in the production of speech sounds. Indeed, it is possible that all the distinctive achievements of the species can be traced to that one genetic change.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The development of controlled speech was a pivotal moment in human evolution.
B. F. Skinner highlights the importance of the ability to control vocalization in the evolution of humankind. This capacity for structured communication via speech is suggested to be the foundation for various complex achievements, indicating that the advancement of human civilization is deeply rooted in this singular genetic advancement.
Themes
SpeechCommunicationEvolutionLanguageHuman Development
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about communication's role in society, one might reflect on Skinner's insights.
More from B. F. Skinner
All quotes →Each of us has interests which conflict the interests of everybody else... 'everybody else' we call 'society'. It's a powerful opponent and it always wins. Oh, here and there an individual prevails for a while and gets what he wants. Sometimes he storms the culture of a society and changes it to his own advantage. But society wins in the long run, for it has the advantage of numbers and of age.
B. F. SkinnerRead
No theory changes what it is a theory about; man remains what he has always been.
B. F. SkinnerRead
I am opposed to the military use of animals. I am also opposed to the military use of men.
B. F. SkinnerRead
The ideal of behaviorism is to eliminate coercion: to apply controls by changing the environment in such a way as to reinforce the kind of behavior that benefits everyone.
B. F. SkinnerRead
Unable to understand how or why the person we see behaves as he does, we attribute his behavior to a person we cannot see, whose behavior we cannot explain either but about whom we are not inclined to ask questions.
B. F. SkinnerRead
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