Walden Two is a controversial dystopian novel by American psychologist and behaviorist B. F. Skinner, published in 1948. In Walden Two, Skinner outlines his utopian vision of what a perfect society should be like. He proposes that people should be organized into tightly-knit social groups in which behavior is managed and manipulated for the benefit of all. This society, called "Walden Two", is based on the principles of social engineering, meaning that individuals are trained from birth to behave in certain prescribed ways. This can help create a peaceful and harmonious society, with no need for laws, governments, or even money.
The novel follows the story of a small group of scientists who visit Walden Two after hearing about its utopia. They spend time observing and analyzing the society and its inhabitants. The founders of Walden Two explain their principles and philosophy, which includes techniques for achieving practical harmony. They discuss how behavior can be managed through a system of positive and negative reinforcements, modules, and language rules.
At the same time, the novel also considers the negative aspects of a perfectly controlled society. The founders of Walden Two acknowledge that it could be vulnerable to outside influences and manipulation. Furthermore, the removal of freedom of choice could conceivably lead to a stifling, oppressive regime.
The novel can be seen as a critique of the idea of social engineering. Skinner argues that attempting to construct a perfectly engineered society is not only futile but also dangerous. Instead, humans should strive to accept the imperfections of their world and seek to discover compassionate and meaningful ways of dealing with their challenges.
In the end, the visitors to Walden Two decide that, while it has its flaws, the society is ultimately beneficial for its inhabitants. They recommend that it should be adopted and implemented elsewhere in the world. However, critics argue that the techniques employed in Walden Two amount to psychological manipulation and should never be used for real-world applications.
Despite the fact that Skinner's views are highly contested by academics, Walden Two remains a key piece of literature in the behaviorist movement. It is highly influential in the field of psychological social engineering and remains an important reference point within the discourse of utopian literature.
