A Note on Skinner and Pavlov's Physiology

Abstract

These short notes describe the way in which Skinner considers and resolves his differences with Pavlov in the question of the relation between psychology and physiology as forms of knowledge. After establishing his viewpoint in the general epistemological issue, Skinner is concerned about linking his study of behavior to the work of Pavlov, who considered it to be of a physiological nature. Skinner contrasts Pavlov's empirical and theoretical work and characterizes the latter in terms of the notion of the "Conceptual Nervous System." Keywords: Skinner, Pavlov, Psychology, Physiology Se analizan en estas breves notas el modo en que Skinner plantea y resuelve sus diferencias con Pavlov respecto a la relación entre psicología y fisiología como formas de saber. Tras establecer su punto de vista en la cuestión epistemológica general, Skinner se preocupa de vincular su estudio de la conducta con la obra de Pavlov, que éste considera fisiológica por naturaleza. Skinner contrapone el trabajo empírico y el trabajo teórico de Pavlov y caracteriza el último en términos de la noción de "Sistema Nervioso Conceptual".

On the Autonomy of Psychology from Neuroscience: A Case Study of Skinner's Radical Behaviorism and Behavior Analysis

“…Here, I will discuss B. F. Skinner's behavior analysis based on the philosophy of radical behaviorism. Besides the necessity of restricting our analysis, the focus on Skinner's behaviorism can be justified for at least two more reasons: (a) Skinner is one of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century (Haggbloom et al, 2002), and (b) he is well known for his defense of the autonomy of behavior analysis from neuroscience (e.g., Baer, 1996; Bradnan, 1982; Bunge, 1990; García-Hoz, 2004; Ilardi & Feldman, 2001; Kandel, 1976; Konorski, 2013; Loucks, 1941; Machamer, 2009; Panksepp, 1990; Razran, 1965; Reese, 1996; Staddon & Bueno, 1991), to the point of even being wrongly accused of defending an antiphysiological position (Zilio, 2015, in press). In sum, in Skinner, we have a prominent figure in psychology who discussed the relation between the science of behavior and neuroscience in a systematic way (as we will see throughout this article), and who defended the autonomy between both sciences.…”