Skinner saw democratic politics as friction threatening rational efficiency.

Evidence

Smooth operations leave no room for unreasonable or unintentional outcomes, and Skinner viewed the creative and often messy conflicts of politics, especially democratic politics, as a source of friction that threatens the rational efficiency of the community as a single, high-functioning “superorganism.” He laments our inclination to try to change things with “political action,” and he endorses what he perceives as a widespread loss of faith in democracy. In Walden Two Frazier insists that “I don’t like the despotism of ignorance. I don’t like the despotism of neglect, of irresponsibility, the despotism of accident, even. And I don’t like the despotism of democracy!” — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 1377

Categorization

• XREF: The ‘despotism of democracy’ line prefigures surveillance capitalism’s opposition between prediction and politics—echoes Zamyatin’s We, where rational planning replaces democratic messiness. — connects to: Skinner rejected democracy, markets, humanism, and religion as cures — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 1184; Skinner saw Enlightenment freedom values as impediments to behavioral science — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 1207; Skinner’s plan replaces politics with dispassionate schedule administration. — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 1378 (+1 more)
• BMF: Frazier’s ‘despotism of democracy’ and the Planner’s substitution of plan for politics strongly evokes the One State’s reason-driven suppression of spontaneous individuality in Zamyatin’s We, the same foundational anti-utopia.

Broader Connections

• Skinner’s plan replaces politics with dispassionate schedule administration. #expands (0.92) — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 1378
• Skinner rejected democracy, markets, humanism, and religion as cures #expands (0.90) — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 1184
• Skinner’s behaviorist utopia requires sacrificing liberal ideals for the good life #expands (0.85) — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 1186
• Skinner saw Enlightenment freedom values as impediments to behavioral science #expands (0.82) — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 1207