Gilbert Ryle
Gilbert Ryle was a British philosopher, primarily known for his critique of Cartesian dualism and for his conceptual analysis within the philosophy of mind. He is best known for his book 'The Concept of Mind' (1949), in which he challenges the traditional mind-body dualism and introduces the concept of 'the ghost in the machine' to highlight the flaws in the Cartesian model. Ryle's work has been influential in the development of ordinary language philosophy and the philosophy of mind.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. The Concept Of Mind
This philosophical work challenges the Cartesian dualism of mind and body, proposing instead that the mind is not a separate entity but a way of acting. The author introduces the notion of "the ghost in the machine" to critique the traditional understanding of the mental as distinct from the physical. Through a detailed analysis, the text argues that mental vocabulary should be understood in terms of dispositions to behave in certain ways, rather than referring to an inner, private realm. This influential book reshapes the way we think about the mind, emphasizing that mental processes are not located in an inner space but are observable in the patterns of behavior and the competencies individuals exhibit.
The 3161st Greatest Book of All Time
