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Is operant selectionism coherent?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2001

François Tonneau
Affiliation:
Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones en Comportamiento, Universidad de Guadalajara, Chapalita, Guadalajara, México CP 45030 ftonneau@udgserv.cencar.udg.mx http://udgserv.cencar.udg.mx/~ceip
Michel B. C. Sokolowski
Affiliation:
Faculté de Philosophie, Sciences Humaines et Sociales, Université de Picardie-Jules Verne, Amiens, France 80025 msokolowski@nordnet.fr

Abstract

Hull et al.'s analysis of operant behavior in terms of interaction and replication does not seem consistent with a genuine selection model. The putative replicators do not replicate, and the overall process is more reminiscent of directed mutation than of natural selection. General analogies between natural selection and operant reinforcement are too superficial to be of much scientific use.

Type
Brief Report
Copyright
© 2001 Cambridge University Press

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