Upon Further Reflection: Extended Edition

Description

Upon Further Reflection is a collection of miscellaneous articles and talks by B. F. Skinner from the 1980s. The book, first printed in 1987, collected a sample of 14 papers written between 1981 and 1986. In addition to the chapters selected for the original publication of the book, the B. F. Skinner Foundation has added some other articles and comments by Skinner, including “A Fable” (1988), “A Thinking Aid” (1987), “War, Peace, and Behavior Analysis: Some Comments” (1988), and “A Humanistic Version of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous” (1987). These pieces fit nicely within the context of Skinner’s “commitment to an experimental analysis of behavior and its use in the interpretation of human affairs” and contributed to his optimism that a science of behavior can be applied to both individual and societal problems. Lastly, “B. F. Skinner: An Autobiography” was included, which offers some insights into the origins of his pragmatic science. A foreword by Dr. Hank Schlinger describes the relevance of this book for the 21st century.