Only Empiricism is Compatible with Behavior Analysis: A Response to the Socialism and Behaviorism Debate

Abstract

The question of which political system is most compatible with applied behavior analysis is examined, a response to the “Socialism and Behaviorism� debate from two recent issues sof Behavior Analysis and Social Action. Various areas of social policy (the environment, overpopulation, industry and welfare) are examined. It is concluded that no system other than pragmatic empiricism is compatible with behavior analysis, or is likely to lead to successful solutions across all these diverse areas.