Experiments Quote by B.F. Skinner
““Once in a while a new government initiates a program to put power to better use, but its success or failure never really proves anything. In science, experiments are designed, checked, altered, repeated-- but not in politics... We have no real cumulative knowledge. History tells us nothing. That's the tragedy of a political reformer.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Lecture on Political Reform, by B.F. Skinner, 1970
Political experiments lack systematic testing, making reforms unpredictable and knowledge accumulation impossible.
In simple terms: Politics isn’t like science; reforms aren’t reliably repeatable.
Key Takeaway
Apply scientific rigor to policy design and evaluation.
Themes
political reform
science
knowledge
history
Mood
skeptical
inquisitive
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- government programs
- academic research
- public administration
- NGO initiatives
Key Concepts
experimental design
cumulative learning
policy evaluation
Questions to Reflect On
- Can political processes be structured like scientific experiments?
- What mechanisms could improve learning from reforms?
A Different Perspective
Political systems resist controlled experiments, limiting data.
![“The most effective alternative process [to punishment] is probably extinction. This takes time but is much more rapid than allowing the response to be forgotten. The technique seems to be relatively free of objectionable by-products. We recommend it, for example when we suggest that a parent 'pay…” quote by B.F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fe3/b-f-skinner-2-27274_behavior_the-most-effective-alternative-process-t_416842.jpg)
