What concept did Gilbert Ryle attribute to the soul in his critique of Cartesian dualism?

Gilbert Ryle's critique of Cartesian dualism centers on his rejection of the view that the mind and body are separate substances, a position famously characterized by Descartes. Ryle famously described the concept of the mind in a manner that emphasizes its functioning rather than as a distinct, immaterial entity. He argued that the term "soul" should not be viewed as a static substance; instead, it should be understood as indicative of activities or behaviors—essentially, as a verb. This aligns with his broader emphasis on analyzing psychological terms according to observable behavior rather than succumbing to the pitfalls of philosophical abstractions that separate mental and physical processes.

In this critique, Ryle highlights the importance of discussing mental states in terms of their practical manifestations and implications in the world, rather than relegating them to a separate, ghostly existence that acts independently of the physical body. Thus, the soul, viewed as a verb, encapsulates the dynamic processes and activities that constitute thought and consciousness, without asserting that these are the product of a non-physical entity residing separately from the body.