DOES SOCIAL-WORK NEED THE ECOSYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE .2. DOES THE PERSPECTIVE SAVE SOCIAL-WORK FROM INCOHERENCE

This is the second part of a two-part article in which I analyze the a rguments for the eco-systems perspective. In Part 1, published in the March 1996 issue of this journal, I examined four arguments for the cl inical usefulness of the perspective and found them to be invalid. Her e, I consider three arguments for the conceptual usefulness of the per spective: (1) it is needed to make social work a coherent profession; (2) it is needed to adequately identify the unique domain of social wo rk: and, (3) it is merely a way of looking at things and not a theory or model, so it can be used without empirical support. A close examina tion of these arguments demonstrates that they, too, are invalid and t hat the claimed conceptual usefulness of the perspective is an illusio n. The conceptual benefits can be achieved only by further clarificati on of the purpose of social work and by directing practice interventio ns at that purpose. There is no need to add a generic theory or perspe ctive to the profession's purpose and practice methods.