Body Quote by Simon Blackburn
“This doctrine, that of the ghost in the machine, strictly separates the mind or soul from the body. And by doing so it takes the soul outside the sphere of mechanical or scientific explanation. It splits the world of the mind from the world of science. It is often supposed to protect our cherished free will.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Think: A Compendium of Moral Philosophy, Simon Blackburn, 2005
The "ghost in the machine" view separates mind from body, placing consciousness beyond scientific reach and defending free will.
In simple terms: Mind-body dualism isolates soul from science.
Key Takeaway
Question the separation of mind and body.
Themes
philosophy
free will
mind-body dualism
Mood
skeptical
analytical
Type
theoretical
provocative
When to use this quote
- Ethics debates
- neuroscience research
- AI consciousness studies
- legal responsibility
Key Concepts
Dualism
materialism
philosophical anthropology
Questions to Reflect On
- Is free will compatible with a materialist view?
- What are the implications of rejecting the "ghost in the machine"?
A Different Perspective
Critics argue this split ignores empirical evidence of brain-mind integration.
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
