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Towards a Formalization of Hull's Behavior Theory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2022

Frederic B. Fitch  and
Gladys Barry
Frederic B. Fitch
Affiliation:
Yale University
Gladys Barry
Affiliation:
Yale University
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Extract

This paper is a tentative step toward formalizing in symbolic logic some of the central assumptions of Clark L. Hull's theory of behavior. There will be noticeable deviations from Hull's own terminology and form of statement, but this will be largely in the interest of greater logical simplicity. The notation of symbolic logic will not be used, but the behavioral axioms will be so stated as to admit of easy translation into such notation. Such easy translatability seems to be a prerequisite if theorems are to be derivable with genuine deductive rigor.

Type
Research Article
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 17 , Issue 3 , July 1950 , pp. 260 - 265
Copyright
Copyright © Philosophy of Science Association 1950

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Footnotes

1

This paper is the result of work done somewhat sporadically over a period of about nine years (1936–45) by Mr. Fitch, and more recently (1945–47) in collaboration with Mrs. Gladys Barry. The earlier work involved numerous conferences with Professor C. L. Hull and Dr. D. G. Ellson. It was carried on under the auspices of the Institute of Human Relations. To Professor Hull and Dr. Ellson are due many helpful suggestions, but they are not to be held responsible for any errors or inadequacies to be found in the present paper. Mrs. Barry made useful criticisms of earlier formulations and proposed various revisions. Mr. Fitch has assumed responsibility for the final formulation of the axioms and for the preparation of the manuscript.

References

2 See C. L. Hull's Principles of Behavior (New York: Appleton-Century Co., 1943).

3 See Appendix A of Mathematico-Deductive Theory of Rote Learning by Hull, Hovland, Ross, Hall, Perkins, Fitch (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1940). See also, F. B. Fitch, Symbolic logic and behavior theory: A reply, Psychological Bulletin, 1940, 37, 817–819.