Gilbert Ryle

Rex Whistler - Gilbert Ryle, Fellow

Gilbert Ryle (19 August 1900 – 6 October 1976) was a British philosopher, primarily known for his critique of Cartesian dualism and for his conceptual analysis in the philosophy of mind. His most famous work, The Concept of Mind (1949), is considered a foundational text in the philosophy of ordinary language and has had a profound influence on twentieth-century philosophy.

Biography

Gilbert Ryle was born in Brighton, England. He was educated at Brighton College and later at Queen's College, Oxford, where he studied Classics, Philosophy, and Ancient History. After completing his studies, Ryle remained at Oxford, where he taught and conducted research for the rest of his career. He served as the Waynflete Professor of Metaphysical Philosophy at Oxford University from 1945 to 1968. Ryle was also a significant figure in the development of the Oxford philosophy scene during the mid-20th century, contributing to the movement known as "ordinary language philosophy."

Philosophical Work

Ryle's philosophical work is characterized by his criticism of what he saw as the "ghost in the machine" view of the mind—the idea that mental states are non-physical and exist independently of the physical world. This view, he argued, stemmed from a fundamental category mistake. According to Ryle, philosophers had wrongly treated the mind as an entity separate from the body, leading to a dualistic approach that he sought to dismantle.

In The Concept of Mind, Ryle argues for a behaviorist understanding of the mind, suggesting that mental states are better understood in terms of dispositions to behave in certain ways, rather than as inner, private experiences. His work laid the groundwork for later developments in the philosophy of mind and cognitive science, challenging the prevailing Cartesian model and influencing the direction of 20th-century thought on the subject.

Ryle was also known for his contributions to the philosophy of language, epistemology, and metaphysics, often focusing on the analysis of ordinary language to dissolve philosophical problems. He was a leading figure in the Oxford school of ordinary language philosophy, which emphasized the importance of looking at the way language is used in everyday contexts to clarify philosophical issues.

Legacy

Gilbert Ryle's influence extends beyond the philosophy of mind. His method of conceptual analysis and his challenge to Cartesian dualism have had a lasting impact on various fields of philosophy, especially in the philosophy of language and epistemology. His work has also influenced the development of cognitive science, particularly in the rejection of dualistic approaches to understanding the mind.

Ryle's emphasis on the importance of ordinary language in philosophical inquiry has contributed to a broader methodological shift in philosophy, moving away from abstract metaphysical speculation towards a more grounded, practical analysis of concepts.

Selected Works

• The Concept of Mind (1949)
• Dilemmas (1954)
• Collected Papers (1971)

See Also

• Philosophy of mind
• Behaviorism
• Ordinary language philosophy