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Cyhist Jul 5 1996 D
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Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 23:25:58 -0700
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From: ac959@freenet.carleton.ca (Peter Martin)
To: "Multiple recipients of list cpsr-history@cpsr.org" Subject: CM> Origins of the word "ghost in the machine."
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Sender: ac959@freenet.carleton.ca (Peter Martin)
Subject: Re: CM> Origins of the word "ghost in the machine."
>>Sarah Stein writes
>>
>> Can anyone tell me the origins and meaning of the phrase "ghost in the
>machine," as well as some >history of its usage?
>Not sure about this, but it seems like a corruption of the old term "god in
>the machine", or in Latin, "deus ex machina", which, according to my
>handy-dandy Microsoft Bookshelf, means:
The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations gives "The dogma of the Ghost in the
machine." from *The Concept of Mind" by Gilbert Ryle.
Ryle was (1900-1976) an English philosopher. Since the word "dogma" turns
up in the quote, and since he capitalized Ghost, I suspect he was much more
likely to be talking about Christianity than about computers.
But short of reading Ryle's book, I can't be sure. And I don't think I'll
read the book, at least not today; I have only the vaguest recollection of
Ryle's role in 20th century philosophy, only recall from long-gone undergrad
days that he was difficult.
Maybe the reference is not the Holy Spirit. Maybe it's the human soul?
Not silicon anyway, and probably not related to "deus ex machina".
--
Peter Martin ***** Garden Books of Sandy Hill
#1 -131 Osgoode St ***** P.O. Box 20559
Ottawa ON K1N 6S5 ***** Ottawa ON K1N 1A3
(613) 237-4180 ***** (613) 565-2595
______________________________________________________________________
Reply-To: cpsr-history@Sunnyside.COM
Originator: cpsr-history@cpsr.org
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From: ac959@freenet.carleton.ca (Peter Martin)
To: "Multiple recipients of list cpsr-history@cpsr.org" Subject: CM> Origins of the word "ghost in the machine."
X-Listprocessor-Version: 9.1 -- List Server by Sunnyside Computing, Inc.
X-Comment: Discussion of history of computing
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Sender: ac959@freenet.carleton.ca (Peter Martin)
Subject: Re: CM> Origins of the word "ghost in the machine."
>>Sarah Stein writes
>>
>> Can anyone tell me the origins and meaning of the phrase "ghost in the
>machine," as well as some >history of its usage?
>Not sure about this, but it seems like a corruption of the old term "god in
>the machine", or in Latin, "deus ex machina", which, according to my
>handy-dandy Microsoft Bookshelf, means:
The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations gives "The dogma of the Ghost in the
machine." from *The Concept of Mind" by Gilbert Ryle.
Ryle was (1900-1976) an English philosopher. Since the word "dogma" turns
up in the quote, and since he capitalized Ghost, I suspect he was much more
likely to be talking about Christianity than about computers.
But short of reading Ryle's book, I can't be sure. And I don't think I'll
read the book, at least not today; I have only the vaguest recollection of
Ryle's role in 20th century philosophy, only recall from long-gone undergrad
days that he was difficult.
Maybe the reference is not the Holy Spirit. Maybe it's the human soul?
Not silicon anyway, and probably not related to "deus ex machina".
--
Peter Martin ***** Garden Books of Sandy Hill
#1 -131 Osgoode St ***** P.O. Box 20559
Ottawa ON K1N 6S5 ***** Ottawa ON K1N 1A3
(613) 237-4180 ***** (613) 565-2595
______________________________________________________________________
