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Cyhist Jul 9 1996 C
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Date: Tue, 9 Jul 1996 13:09:09 -0700
Reply-To: cowan@locke.ccil.org
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From: John Cowan To: "Multiple recipients of list cpsr-history@cpsr.org" Subject: CM> Origins of the word "ghost in the machine."
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Sender: John Cowan Subject: Re: CM> Origins of the word "ghost in the machine."
Peter Martin wrote:
> 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?
Ryle was sardonically referring to Cartesian dualism, a doctrine of Descartes
whereby the body and the mind (more reasonable translation of \\`esprit in this
context) are separate entities that interact only through a single point, the
apparently-non-functional pineal gland. (Hail Eris!)
The "ghost", therefore, is the mind, apparently free, and the "machine" is
the body, deterministically obeying the laws of nature.
ObCompHist: One of my back-burner projects is constructing a portable
simulator (in C) for the IBM 1620. Persons with information not contained
in Basic Programming Concepts and the IBM 1620 Computer, which
is my bible for this project, are urged to contact me at the address below.
In addition, any actual running (so to speak) software for the 1620 that
can be released under Copyleft or to the public domain would be greatly
appreciated.
--
John Cowan cowan@ccil.org
e'osai ko sarji la lojban
______________________________________________________________________
Reply-To: cowan@locke.ccil.org
Originator: cpsr-history@cpsr.org
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From: John Cowan To: "Multiple recipients of list cpsr-history@cpsr.org" Subject: CM> Origins of the word "ghost in the machine."
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Sender: John Cowan Subject: Re: CM> Origins of the word "ghost in the machine."
Peter Martin wrote:
> 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?
Ryle was sardonically referring to Cartesian dualism, a doctrine of Descartes
whereby the body and the mind (more reasonable translation of \\`esprit in this
context) are separate entities that interact only through a single point, the
apparently-non-functional pineal gland. (Hail Eris!)
The "ghost", therefore, is the mind, apparently free, and the "machine" is
the body, deterministically obeying the laws of nature.
ObCompHist: One of my back-burner projects is constructing a portable
simulator (in C) for the IBM 1620. Persons with information not contained
in Basic Programming Concepts and the IBM 1620 Computer, which
is my bible for this project, are urged to contact me at the address below.
In addition, any actual running (so to speak) software for the 1620 that
can be released under Copyleft or to the public domain would be greatly
appreciated.
--
John Cowan cowan@ccil.org
e'osai ko sarji la lojban
______________________________________________________________________
