GILBERT RYLE | PHILOSOPHY

Mae Mendoza

18 Feb 202105:37

Summary

TLDRGilbert Ryle, born in Brighton in the 1900s, was a prominent philosopher who challenged the mind-body dualism with his influential work 'The Concept of Mind.' He argued against Descartes' famous 'I think, therefore I am,' proposing that actions define the self rather than thoughts. Ryle's philosophy emphasized behaviorism and materialism, suggesting that mental processes are essentially intelligent acts inseparable from the body. His academic career at Oxford and service in World War II contributed to his philosophical development, which was further explored in his book 'Dilemmas.'

Takeaways

📚 Gilbert Ryle was born in Brighton, Sussex, England, and came from a prosperous family with a stimulating environment.
🌟 His father was a general practitioner with interests in philosophy and astronomy, which influenced Ryle's intellectual pursuits.
📖 Ryle was an avid reader, enjoying the extensive library at home and later excelling academically at Brighton College and Queen's College, Oxford.
🏆 He achieved first honors in two subjects at Oxford and was the captain of Queen's College boxing club, highlighting his multifaceted talents.
👨‍🏫 Ryle's academic brilliance led to his appointment as a lecturer in 1924 and a tutor in 1925 at Christ Church, Oxford.
🎖 During World War II, Ryle served in the Welsh Guards, eventually retiring as a major, showcasing his commitment to service.
📘 His major work, 'The Concept of Mind,' published in 1949, critically examined and refuted the dualistic view of mind and body as separate entities.
🤔 Ryle believed in the unity of mind and body, arguing that mental processes are intelligent acts and not separate from physical actions.
🔍 In 'Dilemmas' (1954), Ryle demonstrated how philosophical problems could be resolved through a clear understanding of the concepts involved.
🧠 Behaviorists and biologists, who Ryle disagreed with, believed in monism, the idea that the mind and brain are the same, and materialism, the belief that only physical reality exists.
👋 Ryle's philosophical stance emphasized the importance of observable actions in defining one's self, rather than mere thoughts or perceptions.

Q & A

Who was Gilbert Ryle?
-Gilbert Ryle was a British philosopher born in Brighton, Sussex, England, in the 1900s. He was one of 10 children from a prosperous family and had a liberal and stimulating upbringing.
What was Ryle's philosophical stance on the concept of mind?
-Ryle believed in the statement 'I act, therefore I am,' which challenges René Descartes' 'I think, therefore I am.' He argued against the mind-body dualism and believed that mental processes are intelligent acts, suggesting that the mind and body are the same.
What was Ryle's view on the relationship between actions and the self?
-Ryle believed that actions determine the concept of self. He argued that how one acts and what one's actions are depict what one is or what oneself is as a person.
How did Ryle's philosophical beliefs differ from behaviorists and biologists?
-While behaviorists and biologists tend to ignore or deny the existence of the mind, considering it as non-scientific or non-existent, Ryle believed that the mind and body are not separate entities but are one, with mental processes being intelligent acts.
What was the title of Ryle's major work?
-Ryle's major work is titled 'The Concept of Mind,' written in 1949, in which he mounted a devastating attack on partitioned dualism and the view of the mind as a separate substance.
When was Ryle's book 'Dilemmas' published?
-Ryle's book 'Dilemmas' was published in 1954, where he showed how certain philosophical impasses could be dissolved by a clear understanding of the concepts employed.
What was Ryle's educational background?
-Ryle was educated at Brighton College and then at Queen's College, Oxford, where he took first honors in two subjects and was the captain of Queen's College Boxing Club.
What academic positions did Ryle hold at Oxford?
-Ryle was appointed as a lecturer in 1924 and became a tutor a year after at Christ Church, Oxford. From 1945 to 1968, he served as the Waynflete Professor of Metaphysical Philosophy.
What was Ryle's military career like?
-During World War II, Ryle was commissioned by the Welsh Guards and ended his military career as a major.
What is the significance of Ryle's philosophical work in the field of philosophy?
-Ryle's work is significant as it challenges traditional dualistic views of the mind and body, advocating for a non-dualistic approach that sees mental processes as part of the physical actions of the body.
How did Ryle's upbringing influence his philosophical views?
-Ryle's upbringing in a prosperous family with a father interested in philosophy and astronomy likely contributed to his deep engagement with philosophical questions and his development of a unique perspective on the mind and its relationship to the body.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Gilbert Ryle: Life and Philosophical Beliefs

Gilbert Ryle was born in Brighton, Sussex, England in the 19th century and came from a prosperous family with 10 children. His father, a general practitioner with interests in philosophy and astronomy, influenced Ryle's upbringing. Ryle was an avid reader and died in Whitby, Yorkshire in 1976. The video discusses Ryle's philosophical stance on the concept of mind, challenging René Descartes' famous 'I think, therefore I am' with the belief that mental processes are intelligent acts and that the mind and body are one. Ryle believed that actions determine one's self-concept, emphasizing that one's behavior defines who they are as a person.

05:04

🎓 Ryle's Academic Career and Contributions to Philosophy

Gilbert Ryle was educated at Brighton College and Queen's College, Oxford, where he excelled academically, achieving first honors in two subjects and serving as the captain of the college's boxing club. His academic brilliance led to his appointment as a lecturer in 1924 and a tutor in 1925 at Christ Church, Oxford. During 1945 to 1968, Ryle held the position of White's Professor of Moral Philosophy. He also served in the military during World War II. Ryle's major work, 'The Concept of Mind' (1949), criticized the dualistic view of mind and body, advocating a non-dualistic approach. He also wrote 'Dilemmas' (1954), which addressed philosophical impasses through clear understanding of concepts.

🧠 The Mind-Body Problem and Philosophical Perspectives

The video script also explores the broader philosophical debate on the mind-body problem, contrasting Ryle's views with those of behaviorists and biologists. Behaviorists argue that psychology should focus on observable actions, dismissing the study of the mind as unscientific. Radical behaviorists and some biologists go further, suggesting the mind does not exist, with the brain being the physical structure that will eventually explain the mind. This approach is referred to as monism, the belief that the mind and brain are ultimately the same thing, and is associated with materialism, the philosophical stance that physical matter is the fundamental substance in nature.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Gilbert Ryle

Gilbert Ryle was a British philosopher known for his work in the philosophy of mind and his critique of Cartesian dualism. He is the central figure in the video, with his philosophical stance on the mind being the main theme. The script discusses his life, education, and major works, highlighting his contribution to the field of philosophy.

💡Philosophy of Mind

The philosophy of mind is a branch of philosophy that studies the nature of the mind, consciousness, and mental states. In the video, Ryle's stance on the philosophy of mind is explored, particularly his rejection of the mind-body dualism and his argument for a non-dualistic view where mental processes are seen as intelligent acts.

💡René Descartes

René Descartes was a French philosopher known for his statement 'I think, therefore I am,' which Ryle critiques in the video. Descartes' idea of mind-body dualism, where the mind and body are seen as separate entities, is a key concept that Ryle's philosophy opposes.

💡Dualism

Dualism is the philosophical position that there are two fundamental types of substances: the mental and the physical. The video discusses Ryle's opposition to dualism, arguing instead that mental processes are not separate from the physical body but are part of it.

💡Behaviorism

Behaviorism is a theory of psychology that focuses on observable behaviors and argues that mental states cannot be studied scientifically. The video contrasts behaviorism with Ryle's views, noting that while behaviorists might deny the existence of the mind, Ryle argues for a non-dualistic understanding of mental processes.

💡Materialism

Materialism is the philosophical belief that everything, including mental states, can be reduced to physical matter. The video mentions that some biologists and behaviorists follow materialism, suggesting that the mind is the brain, which Ryle's philosophy challenges by proposing a different understanding of the mind-body relationship.

💡Monism

Monism is the belief that there is only one kind of substance or reality. The video describes the behaviorist and biological approaches as monistic, asserting that the mind and brain are the same thing, which is a view that Ryle's philosophy of mind does not support.

💡The Concept of Mind

This is the title of Ryle's major work, published in 1949, where he mounts an attack on the partitioned dualism and the view of the mind as a separate substance. The video uses this book as an example of Ryle's philosophical contributions to the understanding of the mind.

💡Dilemmas

Dilemmas is another book by Ryle, published in 1954, which the video mentions to illustrate his approach to dissolving philosophical impasses through a clear understanding of concepts. This work is part of Ryle's broader philosophical project to clarify and resolve conceptual confusions.

💡Stimulus and Response

In the context of behaviorism mentioned in the video, stimulus and response refer to the observable actions that behaviorists focus on, suggesting that psychology should only study these rather than unobservable mental states. This concept is used to contrast with Ryle's views on the mind.

💡Christ Church, Oxford

Christ Church, Oxford is an institution where Ryle held academic positions, as mentioned in the video. It is relevant to understanding Ryle's academic career and the context in which he developed and presented his philosophical ideas.

Highlights

Gilbert Ryle was born in Brighton, Sussex, England, in the early 1900s and was one of 10 children from a prosperous family.

Ryle's father, a general practitioner, had interests in philosophy and astronomy, which influenced his children's intellectual growth.

Ryle enjoyed a liberal and stimulating childhood, with access to an impressive library, which nurtured his love for reading.

Ryle passed away on October 6, 1976, in Whitby, Yorkshire, after a day's walk on the moors.

Ryle is known for his critical stance on the separation of mind and body, which opposes René Descartes' 'I think, therefore I am'.

Ryle argued that mental processes are intelligent acts, and he believed that actions, not thoughts, define the self.

Ryle's concept of self is determined by one's actions rather than self-perception or mental thought alone.

Ryle emphasized that being a decent and respectful person is shown through actions, not just by thinking or perceiving oneself as such.

Ryle was educated at Brighton College and Queen's College, Oxford, where he excelled academically and became captain of the college's rowing club.

Ryle's brilliance earned him a lecturer position at Oxford in 1924, and he became a tutor in 1925 at Christ Church, Oxford.

From 1945 to 1968, Ryle held the position of Waynflete Professor of Metaphysical Philosophy at Oxford.

During World War II, Ryle served as a major in the Welsh Guards, ending his military career with this rank.

In 1949, Ryle published his major work, 'The Concept of Mind,' where he attacked Cartesian dualism and the notion of mind as a separate substance.

Ryle's 1954 book 'Dilemmas' showcased how philosophical impasses could be resolved through a clear understanding of concepts.

Ryle's philosophical views align with monism, where the mind and body are seen as one entity, contrasting with behaviorists and biologists who focus on observable actions and materialism.