ghost in the machine
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.29 in modern English
31
Scrabble Score
17
Letters
3
Syllables
11
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A metaphor for, and criticism of, the Cartesian dualist conception of a human being as a physical body ("the machine") controlled by an immaterial mind ("the ghost").
noun
A apparent intelligence within a machine, computer system, or other technology, as invoked to explain seemingly purposeful actions, mysterious glitches, or unexpected behaviour.
noun
A spirit or alien entity that temporarily inhabits a vehicle, piece of machinery, or computer system.
Example Sentences
- "Now the dogma of the Ghost in the Machine does just this. It maintains that there exist both bodies and minds; that there occur physical processes and mental processes; that there are mechanical causes of corporeal movements and mental causes of corporeal movements."
- "The doctrines of the Blank Slate, the Noble Savage, and the Ghost in the Machine—or, as philosophers call them, empiricism, romanticism, and dualism—are logically independent, but in practice they are often found together."
- "Hence it was that the computer introduced itself to Timmy and asked him if he was a boy or girl. Then, when Timmy lisped that he was a boy, the ghost in the machine snapped back "No you're not. You're a girl!" Timmy, far from warming to this badinage and telling it that it had gone microsoft in the head, was prostrated with terror and horror and could not be consoled."
- "What is left is electrons bouncing in a box: relationships between frequencies, a dance of shadows without substance, a phantasmagorical presence, the ghosts in the machine."
- "Chelsea can play beautifully when things click. But there are still ghosts in the machine."
- "[headline] Bank aims to bust the ghosts in the machine."