behaviorist

plural behaviorists · alternative behaviourist

1. USOne who studies behavior of humans or animals.
2. UScountablehuman sciencesA supporter of behaviorism.

   The behaviorist has nothing to say of “consciousness.” How can he? Behaviorism is a natural science. He has neither seen, smelled nor tasted consciousness nor found it taking part in any human reactions. How can he talk about it until he finds it in his path?

   1928, John B. Watson, The Ways of Behaviorism, New York; London: Harper & Borthers Publishers, page 3

   2 more examples

   According to “the official view,” one never sees another mind; at most, one sees the physical behavior of another person. But, says the behaviorist, if we were really talking about unobservable entities when we talk about other minds, then each of us would naturally be skeptical about other minds: we would be reluctant to make judgements about mental states of others; we would even be dubious about the very existence of other minds.

   1979, Thomas D. Davis, Philosophy: An Introduction Through Original Fiction and Discussion, New York: Random House, →ISBN, →LCCN, page 20

   But the feeling that the behaviorist is on to something remains. One point which he has going for him is that is seems absurd to suggest that we might someday, after years of fruitful conversation with the Antipodeans, have ground for saying, “Ah, no raw feels; so no minds; so no language, and not persons after all.”

   1980, Richard Rorty, Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature, Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, page 99

comparative more behaviorist · superlative most behaviorist · alternative behaviourist

1. USRelating to behaviorism; behavioristic.