TASK #8: EDRYCH YN ÔL | LOOKING BACKWARDS

This week’s task has its roots in the current vocabulary of science and ‘facts’ that we are enjoying. This language has been reminding me of the great utopian writers Saint-Simon, Robert Owen and Charles Fourier – they all fancied themselves as acute observers of human behaviour. Newton was their hero. More recently, this had me in mind of B.F. Skinner, a behavioural psychologist who wrote a well-known book, Walden Two, in 1948. Skinner seemed to think that there were few limits to our ability to mould and change human behaviour. The social engineering that was key to these changes was sometimes referred to as ‘Not Licking Your Lollipop’- deferred gratification and positive reinforcement and all that had to begin with the very young and a whole society could be built, as Skinner proposed in his book.
Our society has not been keen on the deferring side for some time, but it does seem as if this might now be important and the origins of these ideas lie in science and utopia thinking more generally.
 I don’t think lab coats are what I intend.
With special guest appearance by Peggy.