<P> The `` ghost in the machine '' is British philosopher Gilbert Ryle 's description of René Descartes ' mind - body dualism . The phrase was introduced in Ryle 's book The Concept of Mind ( 1949 ) to highlight the view of dualist systems like Descartes ' where mental activity carries on in parallel to physical action , but where their means of interaction are unknown or , at best , speculative . </P>
<P> The `` ghost in the machine '' is British philosopher Gilbert Ryle 's description of René Descartes ' mind - body dualism . The phrase was introduced in Ryle 's book The Concept of Mind ( 1949 ) to highlight the view of dualist systems like Descartes ' where mental activity carries on in parallel to physical action , but where their means of interaction are unknown or , at best , speculative . </P>
what is meant by the phrase ghost in the machine
what is meant by the phrase ghost in the machine
the view of dualist systems like Descartes ' where mental activity carries on in parallel to physical action , but where their means of interaction are unknown or , at best , speculative
the view of dualist systems like Descartes ' where mental activity carries on in parallel to physical action , but where their means of interaction are unknown or , at best , speculative