Do We Have Freewill Or Are Our Choices And Decisions Summary
Do we have freewill, or are our choices and decisions based on solid cues or suggestion? Through B.F. Skinner’s experiments, Lauren Slater begins to research and understand the idea of whether or not a person has free will. I believe, every person has free will, but cues and councel impact the outcome of our decisions.
Jerome Kagan dives under his desk and explains to Lauren Slater the he has free will. Jerome says, “I’m under my desk, I’ve NEVER gotten under my desk before. Is this not an act of free will?” (17). Jerome has never been under his desk before, but because he was explaining to Slater about free choice, that is what made his decision to jump under his desk. Something he would not have done without the impact of the situation. Instead of actually jumping under his desk, he could have just explained it to her, but instead he physically got off his chair in order to give her a visual understanding. …show more content…
Skinner decided to put his own daughter, Deborah Skinner, into a box for two years. He did this in order to obtain more information about punishment versus reward. Slater said, “In 1971, Time magazine named him the most influential living psychologist” (8). Granted, his experiment with his daughter went further within the psychology field then most believed, he still made a huge decision to keep his living child within the four walls of a box. A choice instigated by the desire and thirst of science. This was a choice he not only made for himself, but a decision that most likely changed the course of his daughter’s life. To this day we still do not know what happened to his daughter, except for she still lives. Skinner also had the choice not to do this experiment, but science was more important to
Jerome Kagan dives under his desk and explains to Lauren Slater the he has free will. Jerome says, “I’m under my desk, I’ve NEVER gotten under my desk before. Is this not an act of free will?” (17). Jerome has never been under his desk before, but because he was explaining to Slater about free choice, that is what made his decision to jump under his desk. Something he would not have done without the impact of the situation. Instead of actually jumping under his desk, he could have just explained it to her, but instead he physically got off his chair in order to give her a visual understanding. …show more content…
Skinner decided to put his own daughter, Deborah Skinner, into a box for two years. He did this in order to obtain more information about punishment versus reward. Slater said, “In 1971, Time magazine named him the most influential living psychologist” (8). Granted, his experiment with his daughter went further within the psychology field then most believed, he still made a huge decision to keep his living child within the four walls of a box. A choice instigated by the desire and thirst of science. This was a choice he not only made for himself, but a decision that most likely changed the course of his daughter’s life. To this day we still do not know what happened to his daughter, except for she still lives. Skinner also had the choice not to do this experiment, but science was more important to