Behinds Quote by Sherry Turkle
“If behind popular fascination with Freudian theory there was a nervous, often guilty preoccupation with the self as sexual, behind increasing interest in computational interpretations of mind is an equally nervous preoccupation with the self as machine.”
About This Quote
Source Article: “The Machine Question” in The Atlantic, 2015
People replace sexual self‑interest with a mechanistic view of the mind, reflecting anxiety about identity.
In simple terms: We view the mind as a machine, showing hidden anxieties.
Key Takeaway
Question how we define self in a tech age.
Themes
technology
identity
psychology
anxiety
modernity
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
analytical
contemplative
When to use this quote
- social media use
- AI interaction
- personal introspection
Key Concepts
self‑as‑machine
Freudian critique
digital self
Questions to Reflect On
- What fears drive the machine metaphor?
- Can we balance biological and computational views?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may oversimplify complex human experience.
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
