Can anyone please explain what the ghost in the machine is?

[FrayedKnot]

I tried to look it up earlier but got confused...can anyone explain it in terms that someone with half a brain cell can understand?

I can't go to bed not knowing....

Ok then I'm going to bed

The ghost in the machine is here It's that as we evolved the primative bits of our brain don't talk to the more evolved parts. That's why humans have a great capacity for good and evil.

Or it could be a poltergeist named Eric living in some mechanical equipment you have around your house.

Ah, thank you Faerie

So, could an example be that even though we can reason that anger is an unhelpful or destructive emotion in many cases, we can;t stop ourselves from feeling it...and acting on it?

In the past anger was helpful, fight or flight saved our ancestors from being eaten. However the developed part of our brain gives us the choice to act on it. I personaly don't believe in the primative being able to completely take over the higher functions.

Philosophers men with too much spare time on their hands and not enough housework!