J. R. Kantor
b. Aug. 8,1888
To reach the age of 90 is in itself notable. To be professionally productive for more than 60 of the 99 years since the benchmark founding of Wundt's laboratory is especially remarkable1.
Two facets of Kantor's contributions characterize his work. First, with historical perspective he has inveighed against the pervasive and continuing spiritistic influence upon the sciences, particularly psychology. He has been insistent that in all scientific behavior the scientist needs to differentiate between construct and event and, rejecting prevailing animistic thinking, to derive the former from the observation of the latter.
In his long list of papers and books he also originated and elaborated the interbehavioral viewpoint, a naturalistic approach offering a framework for studying and understanding the whole spectrum of psychological events. He avoided both dualism and the newer neurologizing while emphasizing the role of cultural conditions in the development of human behavior. He went beyond other critics among the behaviorists who seemed to concentrate on what he labeled "learnology" and who thus, with something like benign neglect, left certain areas minimally treated. Claiming to fill this void, many current writers seem openly to embrace mentalism or not to comprehend that their efforts mirror the persisting and perhaps burgeoning mysticism.2
In addition to his writing, Kantor also has had impact in the scientific world throughThe Principia Press which he still heads, founding of this journal, The Psychological Record, and teaching his many students.
Dr. Kantor, we mark your day this August, congratulate and thank you, and wish you many happy returns!
Irvin S. Wolf