Behaviorism, Consciousness, and the Literary Mind

Behaviorism, which debunked school of psychology, suggests that inanimate objects such as novels or poems have no mental properties of their own. Why do we talk about them as if they do? Why do we perceive the minds of characters, narrators, and speakers as if they were comparable to our own? In Behaviorism, Consciousness, and the Literary Mind, Joshua Gang offers a radical new approach to these questions, which are among the most challenging philosophical problems faced by literary study today. He argues that behaviorism can help us understand why language is so good at creating illusions of mental life and offers the first sustained examination of the outmoded science's place in twentieth-century literature and criticism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 16 November 2021
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press

Behaviorism, a debunked school of psychology, offers valuable insights into the realm of literature. If inanimate objects such as novels or poems lack mental properties of their own, why do we attribute mental attributes to them? Why do we perceive the minds of characters, narrators, and speakers as if they are comparable to our own? In his book "Behaviorism, Consciousness, and the Literary Mind," Joshua Gang presents a radical new approach to these challenging philosophical problems.

Recent cognitive criticism has sought to answer these questions by drawing similarities and analogies between literary form and the processes of the brain. However, Gang takes a different path by turning to behaviorism, a controversial psychological doctrine that emerged in the early 20th century. Psychologists and philosophers like John B. Watson, B.F. Skinner, and Gilbert Ryle argued that many of the things we consider mental phenomena are actually misinterpreted behaviors and physiological processes. While behaviorism has lost its scientific relevance in modern times, Gang argues for its immense critical value in understanding why language is so adept at creating illusions of mental life.

Gang delves into behaviorism's literary history, offering the first comprehensive examination of its place in 20th-century literature and criticism. Through innovative readings of figures such as I.A. Richards, the American New Critics, Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter, and J.M. Coetzee, Behaviorism, Consciousness, and the Literary Mind uncovers significant convergences between modernist writers, experimental psychology, and analytic philosophy of mind. The book also provides readers with a fresh framework for thinking about some of the most fundamental questions in literary study.

One of the key insights offered by behaviorism is that mental phenomena are not interior but rather exterior. This means that they are not located within the mind but rather in the external world, shaped by environmental factors and social interactions. Gang argues that this understanding of mental phenomena helps us to better understand why language is so effective in creating illusions of mental life. Language is not just a means of communication but also a tool for constructing and maintaining mental representations of the world. By using language, we can create stories, characters, and narratives that seem to possess their own mental lives, even though they are ultimately products of our imagination and interpretation.

Behaviorism also sheds light on the nature of consciousness. Gang argues that consciousness is not an internal subjective experience but rather an external phenomenon that arises from the interaction between the mind and the environment. Consciousness is not something that exists within the mind but rather something that emerges from the brain's processing of sensory information and the body's responses to it. This understanding of consciousness helps us to better understand why literature can be so powerful in conveying emotions and experiences. Literature can evoke emotions and experiences that are not directly accessible through sensory experience, but rather through the imaginative and interpretive faculties of the mind.

In conclusion, behaviorism offers a unique perspective on literature that challenges traditional assumptions about the mind and consciousness. By examining the relationship between behaviorism and literature, Gang provides readers with a new framework for thinking about some of the most fundamental questions in literary study. Through innovative readings of key figures in 20th-century literature, Behaviorism, Consciousness, and the Literary Mind offers valuable insights into the power of language, the nature of consciousness, and the role of the environment in shaping mental phenomena.

Weight: 318g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781421440859