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Definition:
The phrase "ghost in the machine" was used by Gilbert Ryle in his 1949 book The Concept of Mind
to describe the dualism of Descartes. According to Descartes, the human body may be a machine,
but it only became a "person" when it was infused with an immaterial soul. The two thus produce a dualistic
system of substances, one material and the other immaterial, neither or which could be reduced to the
other. Ryle rejected and criticized this view in his work.
Also Known As: none
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Related Resources:
What is the Philosophy of Mind?
The relatively recent specialty known as Philosophy of Mind deals with questions of consciousness and how it interacts with the body and the outside world. Thus, it asks not only what mental phenomena are and what gives rise to them, but also what relationship they have to the larger physical body and the world around us.What is Philosophy?
What is philosophy? Is there any point in studying philosophy, or is it a useless subject? What are the different branches of philosophy - what's the difference between aestheitcs and ethics? What's the difference between metaphysics and epistemology?
