Um balanço de parte da teoria dos sistemas intencionais de Dennett / An assessment of a part of Dennett's intentional systems theory

Dennett (1981/1987b) caracteriza sua abordagem do funcionamento dos termos intencionais (aqueles para as assim chamadas atitudes proposicionais) como um "behaviorismo lógico holista", ou versão holista de delineamentos conceituais traçados por Ryle (1949). Este artigo avalia algumas de suas possíveis contribuições e desvantagens para tais delineamentos, e algumas consequências para sua proposta de utilização destes termos em psicologia. Argumenta-se que a abordagem não se mostra mais plausível do que a de seu predecessor, caso a dimensão mentalista que lhe acrescenta seja equivocada, e que de fato este é o caso. Disso resulta que suas contribuições e proposta correlata devem ser entendidas com independência daquilo que tal dimensão implica. Uma alternativa não-mentalista, baseada no modelo selecionista de Skinner, para uma eventual adoção dos termos intencionais em psicologia, é brevemente discutida.

Dennett (1981/1987b) characterizes his approach as to how intentional terms (those for the so called propositional attitudes) work as a "holistic logical behaviorism," or a holistic version of some of Ryle's (1949) conceptual remarks. This paper examines possible contributions and disadvantages of Dennett's approach, as well as the consequences of this proposal in relation to the employment of intentional terms in psychology. It is argued that Dennett's approach does not turn out to be more accurate than his predecessor's, since the mentalistic dimension it adds to the latter is erroneous. Accordingly, Dennett's contributions and related proposal should be understood without the implications of this dimension. A non-mentalistic alternative, based upon Skinner's selectionist model, for eventually adopting intentional terms in psychology is briefly discussed.

How safe is ryle’s tube feeding.

Administration of fluid diet by nasogastric tube is indicated in patients who are unable or unwilling to take sufficient nourishment by mouth. Ryle's tube is one among such devices, which is commonly used for feeding unconscious patients, and for performing stomach wash in cases of suspected poisoning. But before using this tube for any procedure it is imperative to check the correct position of the distal end of the tube. This is because, occasionally the tube may inadvertently enter the airway instead of the gastrointestinal tract. In rare cases, even when the tube is positioned in the gastrointestinal tract, fatality can result. A case is reported here in which, an adult male with a history of head injury was admitted to the hospital in an unconscious state, and died after a period of about 12 hours following admission. At autopsy, food particles were seen in the lung parenchyma, which indicated faulty positioning of Ryle's tube that had led to fatality. Chest X-ray showed the Ryle's tube curving at the fundus of the stomach and re-entering the oesophagus.