The Concept of Rational Animal

Abstract

I would like to begin by raising a question, but the question I have in mind requires some sort of launching-pad. I therefore ask you to bear with me while I provide my question with the context which I think it requires. To this end I shall quote an abridged passage from the late Professor Bode’s book, Conflicting Psychologies of Learning. In this passage Professor Bode is setting forth a certain belief about human behavior. He is not asserting the belief, but formulating it for those who do or would assert it. With that reservation in mind, let me read what he says. It is as follows :

There is no significant difference between the behavior of a human being and the behavior of a machine. Such differences as we find are differences of complexity. They are the sort of differences that we find when we compare a wheelbarrow and an automobile. Man credits himself with purpose, or intentions, but these are all reducible to principles of mechanism. Man is a machine ... This conclusion is repugnant to common sense ... However, what is called common sense may be nothing more than a name for prejudices to which we have become accustomed ... Consequently it behooves us to give careful consideration to the contention that all human behavior is reducible to terms of mechanism ... What is meant by mechanism or mechanical behavior ? Mechanism means the absence of purpose.