Walden Two
BF Skinner
Psychology professor Burris is approached by two former students, Rogers and Jamnik, about an old graduate school acquaintance named Frazier who started a utopian commune called “Walden Two.” The two students invite another former student named Burris, another psychology professor named Castle, and their wives to stay at the commune for a weekend to assess just how utopian the facility really is. Burris agrees, and lives within Walden Two for a weekend. During his stay, Burris is exposed to several peculiar practices which are questionable from an outsider’s perspective, but seemingly work quite well for the commune. Some of these ideas include “labor-credits” replacing money (Ch. 8), political managers making democratic decisions on behalf of the citizens (Ch. 23), consummation as teenagers (Ch. 16), and all children being raised by a handful of designated caregivers rather than biological parents (Ch. 14). Most chapters present an idea adopted by Walden Two which seems questionable, with a dialogue about the practice where Frazier supports the practice, Castle opposes it, and Burris tries to be neutral. By the end of the book Burris and his wife decide to abandon their lives and join Walden Two.
"Walden Two” was the last book written by Skinner I have read, and I was shocked by what was presented in the book as a “utopia.” Walden Two was one of Skinner’s earlier works, with the final draft finished by 1945. This of course leaves over 30 years for Skinner to have changed his concept of utopia, however I doubt he made any adjustments since in 1979 a documentary was published titled, “A World of Difference: Skinner and the Good Life," where Skinner visits a commune following the “Walden model,” and Skinner seems pleased with the results. The book presents outlandish, if not outright DYSTOPIAN, practices adopted by Walden Two which, through the biased lens of the author, magically work to keep all of the people satisfied with no complaints from any of the inhabitants. Ideas presented by Frazier very rarely receive reasonable push-back, with the main character almost always siding with Frazier’s opinion and the opposing voice of reason, Castle, presenting contrived refutations designed to be quickly debunked. For example, in chapter 8 Frazier explains how the local economy of the commune functions. All goods are free, but everyone must work to earn “labor-credits.” A labor-credit is worth one hour of labor, however less desirable jobs provide more labor-credits for completion. To maintain upkeep of the facility, each citizen must work 1200 hours. To control the planned economy, all new citizens must enter the commune with no money and any money earned from outside while working within the commune must be given to the commune. Most readers would immediately see an issue with this: how could anyone leave Walden Two if they enter with nothing and leave with company scrip? This question goes unanswered, but I’m sure the answer given by Frazier would be this quote straight from a horror movie: “why would anyone want to leave?!” That’s really Frazier’s answer to several of Castle’s arguments. Castle at one point presents the argument that a writer could earn money from the outside while reaping the rewards from within Walden Two. Frazier responds, “Whatever [would they do that] for… All money earned by members belongs to the community.” You want to live in Walden Two? Then you WILL own nothing and be happy.