ghosts in the machine

A form of ghost in the machine — 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").

Meanings

noun
  1. pluralplural of ghost in the machine
Cite this entry
APA

ghosts in the machine. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ghosts%20in%20the%20machine

MLA

“ghosts in the machine.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ghosts%20in%20the%20machine. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ghosts in the machine,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ghosts%20in%20the%20machine.

Source: ghosts in the machine on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.