In this seminar we have discussed the traditional approach to the relation of mind and body assumes that there is a basic distinction between Mind and matter. According to Ryle, the classical theory of mind, as represented by Cartesian rationalism, asserts that there is a basic distinction between mind and matter.

 

Mind is  just the way the human body and its brain function. Thus, according to Ryle, a dualist makes a big category mistake by confusing the terms of different types to be terms of the same type. Mind and body are, according to him, further holds that it is improper to cojoin or disjoin the terms of different categories or types. ‘Mind exists’ and ‘Body exists’ are valid, though conjunctive or disjunctive statements like ‘Mind and Body exist’ and ‘Mind or Body exists’ are invalid.

 

Man has many dispositions or bents or inclinations in him. He acts at opportune moments according to those dispositions. But these dispositions are not stored in an inner private chamber called mind. There are just the ways in which the public behaviour of men as dispositions.

 

Mind-involving concepts mean tendencies leading to behaviour in appropriate circumstances. Mind is behaviour, as behaviour it is nothing secret.it is open and public. By observing our own behaviours, we can have a look into our own minds. By observing the behaviour of others, we can have a look into their minds. There is an open access into the minds of others as well as of our own selves.

 

The Concept of Mind that have been re-discovered by contemporary philosophers of mind and cognitive science: the primacy of knowledge how, the intrinsic connection between thought and action, and anti-representationalism, the idea that thinking is not the processing of representations. The Concept of Mind was recognized on its appearance as an important contribution to philosophical psychology, and an important work in the ordinary language philosophy movement. It is the time to consider some new dimensions of Ryle’s philosophy, which have relevance in the contemporary world of thought.