The Ghost in the Machine by Arthur Koestler (PDF)

Description

In The Sleepwalkers and The Act of Creation Arthur Koestler provided pioneering studies of scientific discovery and artistic inspiration, the twin pinnacles of human achievement. The Ghost in the Machine looks at the dark side of the coin: our terrible urge to self-destruction… Could the human species be a gigantic evolutionary mistake? To answer that startling question Koestler examines how experts on evolution and psychology all too often write about people with an ‘antiquated slot-machine model based on the naively mechanistic world-view of the nineteenth century. His brilliant polemic helped to instigate a major revolution in the life sciences, yet its ‘glimpses of an alternative world-view’ form only the background to an even more challenging analysis of the human predicament. Perhaps, he suggests, we are a species in which ancient and recent brain structures – or reason and emotion – are not fully co-ordinated. Such in-built deficiencies may explain the paranoia, violence and insanity that are central strands of human history. And however disturbing we find such issues, Koestler contends, it is only when we face our limitations head-on that we can hope to find a remedy.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐In contrast to another comment posted here, I feel that it is clearly the third section of this encyclopedic, enlightening, edifying (and often witty) book that makes the greatest, gut-wrenching impact that continues to resonate long after the 1960’s. This was not just the “spirit of the times” – look at the condition of the world today – essentially the violence and destruction have not changed. If anything, the world is far worse off than when Koestler wrote this.Written in the most lucid language of the book, the third section finally addresses directly the millennia of continuous, uninhibited, murderous mass violence of homo sapiens against homo sapiens – a “unique species” in that its vastly superior intelligence does not seem, in the majority of its individuals, to inhibit irrational destruction of its own species. In fact, the still largely uptapped, ever-increasing intelligence renders this destructiveness more and more horribly dangerous – not only to our own species, but to all other species…and to our entire environment and ability to survive in it. None of this is true of any other species, except…Koestler makes the darkly humorous but factual observation that the only other species that have no inhibitions against killing their own kind are ants and rats – but their levels and ranges of destruction are hardly likely to increase exponentially as ours do.

⭐Very interesting ideas, but the book really tends to beat around the bush and be repetitive

⭐This is a very good book, and I am glad I have it in my possession, but i have just got 2/3 into the book to realize that pages 114 and 115 are completely missing, and there does not seem to be any tell-tale evidence of it being ripped out, so I am wondering if it is just a defect of this copy.

⭐Dense with insight and ideas. Feed your left brain, grow your spiritual insights. It’s all there.

⭐It was the reference book I needed for a class

⭐I seem to have recieved a misprint, with pages 114 & 115 missing, while 116 is printed on the back of Part 2 or page 113.

⭐Fast Turnaround. Product as described.

⭐earth shattery good.

⭐10/10

⭐brilliant!

⭐El libro es muy interesante y habla de una gran cantidad de temas científicos y filosóficos, lo recomiendo para cualquier interesado de la antropología.El problema es que el libro en si… Parece impreso en el siglo pasado, a pesar de que dice “January 2022”.Y lo más absurdo… Venía con algunas frases subrayadas a lápiz!! Se supone que es nuevo, no de segunda mano.

⭐

⭐The Ghost in the machine is an intellectual and at times passionate exploration of what it is to be human. Written in a worldly but challenging style reflective of the depth of character and intelligence of the author. Koestler manages to convince the reader that grand theories of human brilliance, pathos and obvious flaws can be not only be investigated but understood and even overcome. I enjoyed this book and recommended it if you enjoy a challenge to better yourself.

⭐Me pareció fundamental en este libro porque es parte de lo que tomó el autor para hacer Ghost in the shell, muy interesante la propuesta filosófica vale la pena leerlo

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