History Main / GhostInTheMachine

Not to be confused with ''Franchise/GhostInTheShell'', the album of the same name by Music/ThePolice, the 1993 horror film named after the Police album (a.k.a. ''Deadly Terror''), an obscure 2003 graphic novel, the 9th arc of [[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall Atop the Fourth Wall]], the [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformers Transformers]] episode, or Ghost of the Robot, ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' alum Creator/JamesMarsters' band.

* Several times in ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'', Calvin has had little mini-Calvins operating his body and screening his dreams as films.

* ''WebComic/AxisPowersHetalia'': This happens to Germany after hugging Italy in "Buon San Valentino" (Part 2). And in Germany's head, there are army men (complete with a General) [[http://monolaf.tumblr.com/post/157826918289/franceyboo-inside-out-looks-amazing sorting files]]... in which they don't know where to store any of those heart-shaped files containing feeling of romance.

Cartesian philosophy (flanderised by the pop culture -- consult Wiki/TheOtherWiki) includes a notion that there is, in effect, a little creature [[HappyPlace inside your head.]] It sits on your [[PinealWeirdness pineal gland]] and works the controls that make your robot-like body move around, much like the pilot of a MobileSuitHuman. The little thing is the "real you", and it's a much deeper and more interesting creature than the physical "you" everyone else gets to see, mostly because the human body has lousy User Interface design. The term was actually coined as a criticism of Cartesianism by the British philosopher Gilbert Ryle.

Cartesian philosophy (flanderised by the pop culture -- consult Wiki/TheOtherWiki) includes a notion that there is, in effect, a little guy [[HappyPlace inside your head.]] He sits on your [[PinealWeirdness pineal gland]] and works the controls that make your robot-like body move around, much like the pilot of a MobileSuitHuman. The little guy is the "real you", and he's a much deeper and more interesting guy than the physical "you" everyone else gets to see, mostly because the human body has lousy User Interface design. The term was actually coined as a criticism of Cartesianism by the British philosopher Gilbert Ryle.

* Kaguya from ''Manga/KaguyaSamaLoveIsWar'' has three distinct pseudopersonalities that play the role of her Id, Ego, and Superego (referred to as Kaguya (Moron), Kaguya (Child), and Kaguya (Ice) respectively) who act out mental court cases with her when she's at a complete loss for what to do. Unlike most examples, the three of them explicitly do not exist within the context on the story and are mearly an artistic representation of her being a MoodSwinger.

-->''Kaguya (Child):''' We're all you. You're the one who has to make the decision. So? What do "we" want to do?

[[folder:Comedy]]
* Swedish comedy group Galenskaparna has a routine in which a man's brain gets so tired of the man never using it, that it escapes and tries to make a new life for itself. ("Does anyone want a brain? Practically unused, only one previous owner!")

* PlayedForLaughs in ''Manga/KaguyaSamaLoveIsWar''. When Kaguya realizes that the birthday cake she bought for Shirogane is way too big, she mentally contemplates what to do which is represented as a court case with her cold side/pride and her dumb side/feelings arguing while her kid side is the judge.

[[folder:Comedy]]
* Swedish comedy group Galenskaparna has a routine in which a man's brain gets so tired of the man never using it, that it escapes and tries to make a new life for itself. ("Does anyone want a brain? Practically unused, only one previous owner!")
[[/folder]]

** In one instance, two accountants are seen working inside Peter's skull as he suffers a hangover. In another, we cut to the inside of his brain, as the last brain cell after Peter's heavy drinking killed the rest (in homage to a ''[[Series/TheTwilightZone Twilight Zone]]'' episode) reflects on having time enough at last to read all his books... [[CruelTwistEnding only to suffer the same terrible fate as his Twilight Zone counterpart]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TucaAndBertie'': At one point, we see the inside of Bertie's brain as she examines Pastry Pete, which contains a miniature version of Berite herself pacing around and seeing the world through Bertie's eyeballs.

* The ''Series/HermansHead''[=/=]''WesternAnimation/InsideOut'' notion: [[MentalWorld actual little people live inside your brain]], each representing some aspect of personality

* Inverted by the ''Apollo440'' instrumental track "Machine In The Ghost".

* In ''Film/SpyKids 3: Game Over'', the Toymaker creates three virtual representations of his ghosts; a hippy, a doctor and a soldier.

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* There is a ShoutOut to the example of this trope to ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' in this ''WebAnimation/TheMostPopularGirlsInSchool'' fanfiction, ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11460185/1/Rated-R Rated R]]''.
[[/folder]]

* This is the main part of a {{Josei}} manga and adapted film (of all things) called ''Manga/PoisonBerryInMyBrain''. Starring a 30 year-old woman's Boss/Reason, Past/Memory, Impulse, Pessimism, and Optimism--all personified as people having a business meeting in her brain.

In any event, in the land of fiction the notion of a ghost in the machine is not only dominant but often literally true. Of course, this might cause FridgeLogic issues when one asks oneself whether this "little person" needs to have an even smaller person inside them, leading to an infinite regress.

* ''WebComic/AxisPowersHetalia'': This happens to Germany after hugging Italy in "Buon San Valentino" (Part 2). And in Germany's head, there are army men (complete with a General) [[http://franceyboo.tumblr.com/post/121969434669/inside-out-looks-amazing sorting files]]... in which they don't know where to store any of those heart-shaped files containing feeling of romance.

* PlayedForLaughs in ''Manga/KaguyaSamaWaKokurasetai''. When Kaguya realizes that the birthday cake she bought for Shirogane is way too big, she mentally contemplates what to do which is represented as a court case with her cold side/pride and her dumb side/feelings arguing while her kid side is the judge.

* Scrooge and the three spirits in ''Film/AChristmasCarol2009'' are depicted this way, and [[TalkingToHimself all are played by Jim Carrey]].

* This is the main part of a {{Josei}} manga and adapted film (of all things) called ''Manga/NounaiPoisonBerry''. Starring a 30 year-old woman's Boss/Reason, Past/Memory, Impulse, Pessimism, and Optimism--all personified as people having a business meeting in her brain.

* PlayedForLaughs in ''Manga/KaguyaSamaWaKokurasetai''. When Kaguya realizes that the birthday cake she bought for Shirogane is way too big, she mentally contemplates what to do which is represented as a [[http://mangafox.me/manga/kaguya_sama_wa_kokurasetai_tensai_tachi_no_renai_zunousen/v06/c053/7.html court case]] with her cold side/pride and her dumb side/feelings arguing while her kid side is the judge.

In any event in the land of fiction the notion of a ghost in the machine is not only dominant but often literally true. Of course, this might cause FridgeLogic issues when one asks oneself whether this "little person" needs to have an even smaller person inside them, leading to an infinite regress.

* In early episodes of ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', Sakura had an "Inner Sakura" in her head. Inner Sakura was mostly just a device to let the audience know what Sakura [[InnerMonologue really thought of a given situation]], so there was no need for it once she became more assertive and outgoing. However, Inner Sakura did help her shake off Ino's mind control at one point, so whether it was an actual alternate personality or not is left up in the air.

Cartesian philosophy (flanderised by the pop culture -- consult TheOtherWiki) includes a notion that there is, in effect, a little guy [[HappyPlace inside your head.]] He sits on your [[PinealWeirdness pineal gland]] and works the controls that make your robot-like body move around, much like the pilot of a MobileSuitHuman. The little guy is the "real you", and he's a much deeper and more interesting guy than the physical "you" everyone else gets to see, mostly because the human body has lousy User Interface design. The term was actually coined as a criticism of Cartesianism by the British philosopher Gilbert Ryle.