B. F. Skinner's Walden Two is a utopian novel wherein Skinner explores the use of behaviourist principles to create a utopian society. In his 1976 preface "Walden Two Revisited" Skinner makes the following statements about his utopia, it being characterized by .
- the reduction of labour
- small communities, not cities, which function as a "large and affectionate family in which everyone would play parental and filial roles (very Indigenous)
- the reduction of consumption
- an "annual wage."
- community socialization (it takes a village) where everybody is involved in childcare
- the significance of environment, including early environment, in determining behaviour
- Aesthetic needs: "A world which has been made beautiful and exciting by artists, composers, writers, and performers is as important for survival as one which satisfies biological need"
- Leisure needs, but authentic creative leisure (I need to add this to needs theory)
- the reduction of government and its devotion primarily to "health, education, and welfare."
For Skinner, and for many others, utopia is grounded on the complete satisfaction of human needs.
The way forward? "What is needed is not a new political leader or a new kind of government but further knowledge about human behavior and new ways of applying that knowledge to the design of cultural practices." (italics added)
It is now widely recognized that great changes must be made in the American way of life. Not only can we not face the rest of the world while consuming and polluting as we do, we cannot for long face ourselves while acknowledging the violence and chaos in which we live. The choice is clear: either we do nothing and allow a miserable and probably catastrophic future to overtake us, or we use our knowledge about human behavior to create a social environment in which we shall live productive and creative lives and do so without jeopardizing the chances that those who follow us will be able to do the same. Something like a Walden Two would not be a bad start." Jan, 1976