I am going to end this short article by telling you about what I think is an extreme irony as a postscript to Professor Skinner's time on the faculty of the "Department of Psychology" at IU. In 2005 this department was renamed the "Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences." First, note that "brain" is not subsumed as part of "psychological," in deference to Skinner, no doubt. Second, if you go to this website: ch.indiana.edu/directory/staff/index.html and then click on "history," you will see a large statue, made from the area's legendary limestone quarries, of a human brain, undeniably representing part of a person since the neck looks included, and being unveiled by three gentlemen in front of the department's building with a ring of onlookers surrounding it. I wonder if the shaking head of Skinner's ghost was there, upset that the word, "Psychological" had been included. Come to think of it, I also wonder whether he discounted the role of his own brain in forging a legendary career. And finally, think about yourself in having chosen to read this article. What role did your own brain, the rest of you and your context play in this process?
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