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: Hardback
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 engage with them as if they possess minds? Why do we perceive the minds of characters, narrators, and speakers as if they are relatable to our own? In his book "Behaviorism, Consciousness, and the Literary Mind," Joshua Gang presents a radical new perspective on these perplexing questions, which are central to contemporary literary studies.

Recent cognitive criticism has sought to address these issues by drawing parallels between literary form and brain processes. However, Gang takes a different approach by delving into 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 credibility, Gang contends that it holds immense critical value in understanding the remarkable ability of language to create illusions of mental life.

Gang's book explores behaviorism's literary history, offering a comprehensive examination of its influence on twentieth-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 unveils significant convergences between modernist writers, experimental psychology, and analytic philosophy of mind. It provides readers with a fresh framework for understanding the complexities of literary representation and the interplay between consciousness, behavior, and language.

In conclusion, behaviorism, despite its debunking, provides a unique lens through which to analyze literature. By examining the relationship between behaviorism and literature, Gang offers valuable insights into the nature of mental phenomena, the power of language, and the complexities of literary representation. His book is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the boundaries between mind and matter, the role of literature in shaping our understanding of the world, and the enduring significance of behaviorism in shaping our intellectual landscape.

Weight: 416g
Dimension: 158 x 236 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781421440842