The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.
Meaning of the quote
The quote suggests that the more important question is not whether machines can think, but whether humans can think and act rationally. It implies that the real challenge is not about the abilities of machines, but about the abilities of people to use their own minds and make good decisions. The quote encourages us to focus on improving human thinking and behavior, rather than just worrying about the capabilities of technology.
About B. F. Skinner
B.F. Skinner was a renowned American psychologist who developed the theory of operant conditioning and founded the experimental analysis of behavior. He was a prolific author and is considered one of the pioneers of modern behaviorism, being the most influential psychologist of the 20th century.
More quotes from B. F. Skinner
Society attacks early, when the individual is helpless.
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If you’re old, don’t try to change yourself, change your environment.
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The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.
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The consequences of an act affect the probability of it’s occurring again.
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I did not direct my life. I didn’t design it. I never made decisions. Things always came up and made them for me. That’s what life is.
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The way positive reinforcement is carried out is more important than the amount.
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A failure is not always a mistake, it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying.
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We shouldn’t teach great books; we should teach a love of reading.
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Give me a child and I’ll shape him into anything.
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Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.
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