A Behavioral Pedagogy for the Community of Inquiry

Abstract

Introduction:  Behaviorism is an ominous term, in philosophy and in education, so let me disclaim a little. Anthony Flew’s handy Dictionary of Philosophy gives us three uses for behaviorism, all psychological. There are metaphysical behaviorists, who deny the existence of consciousness (so there exist only things, behaving). Methodological behaviorists are willing to be agnostic about consciousness, but say that still, if psychology is going to make it all the way from philosophy to science, then we have to stick to studying behavior, since that can be observed. And finally, analytical behaviorists only ask us to notice that it’s possible to analyze psychological concepts in just behavioral terms. But of course once you admit that, it’s hard to see psychological concepts as referring to anything else.