Machan needs to touch up on the assumptions that are made by ALL scientists. What science decides is its subject matter must be orderly and deterministic. This is crucial for all sciences. For Machan to claim that Skinner's work is not science because it is deterministic is fundamentally wrong, and I suggest he consider at least the past few hundred years of science before he sets out on writing another book.

The most important thing Machan shows is that science should not prejudge how what it studies must behave. That's supposed to be a matter of discovery. So if it turns out, for example, that human beings cause some of their actions or have free will, that is what the science of human behavior, pace Skinner, must record. Otherwise science is prejudiced.

Carpenter's treatment of Skinner is cursory at best, and does not demonstrate full understanding. His chapter on scientists taking over the world show the depth of fear, not intellect or understanding, that motivates such writing.