Gilbert Ryle (philosopher)

Gilbert Ryle was a British philosopher known for his critique of the idea that the mind is a separate, non-physical substance—what's called the "ghost in the machine." Instead, he argued that mental states like beliefs and thoughts are better understood as behaviors or dispositions to act in certain ways. Ryle emphasized that mind and body are interconnected and that mental processes are part of our actions and language, not mysterious entities. His work helped shift philosophy towards understanding mental phenomena through observable behavior and everyday language.