What is BF Skinner trying to say with his idea of Utopia?

Answer 1

"Skinner's book Walden Two presents a vision of a decentralized, localized society which applies a practical, scientific approach and futuristically advanced behavioral expertise to peacefully deal with social problems. Skinner's utopia, like every other utopia or dystopia, is both a thought experiment and a rhetorical work.

Skinner answers a problem that exists in many utopian novels "What is the Good Life?" Skinner answers that it is a life of friendship, health, art, a healthy balance between work and leisure, a minimum of unpleasantness, and a feeling that one has made worthwhile contributions to one's society.

Additionally Skinner felt behavioral technology would offer alternatives to coercion, good science applied right would help society, and we would all be better off if we cooperated with each other peacefully. Skinner's novel has been described by Skinner as "my New Atlantis" referring to Bacon's utopia.

Intellectual opponents, such as Noam Chomsky, in their attempt to show Skinner wrong, have equated Skinner's philosophic determinism with political oppression. Skinner has often been equated to political and social positions he never espoused and even explicitly objected to."

Answer 2

He's trying to make a case for behavioralism while arguing that decentralized, local government is the most effective form of government since it provides the most direct contact among people. His theory was tried out in a commune back in the 70's, but they eventually had to drop his behavioristic approach. They're still going strong today. The name is Twin Oaks.

I think skinner's behviorism is mistaken, but I do agree that decentralized government is a superior form of governing.