h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

So, B.F. Skinner (famous psychologist, behaviourist kind of guy) wrote a novel about his ideal utopia. The novel (and consequently his utopia) is called Walden Two.

Now a little bit about good ‘al Skinner; before he was a world famous behaviourist, he was a failed novelist. Reading Walden Two, one can see why he never made it as a writer of fiction. Yet, his ideas are interesting, albeit completely contrary to my own, rather existential beliefs.

Here is an example of his writing:


“We solve the problem of the lecturer by dispensing with him. The lecture is a most inefficient method of diffusing culture. It became obsolete with the invention of printing. It survives only in our universities and their lay imitators, and [sic] a few other backward institutions.” He [Frazier] glared at Castle. “Why don’t you just hand printed lectures to your students? Yes, I know. Because they won’t read them. A fine institution it is that must solve that problem with platform chicanery!” (Skinner 1948[1962]:42)