Conceptual Art,Ideas, and Ontology

Peter Goldie and Elisabeth Schellekens have recently articulated the Idea Idea, the thesis that “in conceptual art, there is no physical medium: the medium is the idea.” But what is an idea, and in the case of works such as Duchamp's Fountain, how does the idea relate to the urinal? In answering these questions, it becomes apparent that the Idea Idea should be rejected. After showing this, I offer a new ontology of conceptual art, according to which such artworks are not ideas but artifacts imbued with ideas. After defending this view from objections, I briefly discuss some implications it has for the ontology of art in general.     

How They View Their Role: A Survey of Counselors in Different Secondary Schools

This study investigated how counselors in differently structured secondary schools look at their functions. Differences found were examined in relationship to expectations set forth in professional guidelines.     

Impairment: Implications for the Counseling Profession

The issue of impairment has not been adequately addressed in the professional counseling literature. The authors explore the issue of impairment in the counseling profession, drawing from the literatures of medicine and psychology in discussing the prevalence of impairment, several views of the topic, responses to the problem, and related ethical considerations. Recommendations for the analysis and resolution of impairment issues in counseling are presented.     

Developing Moral Responsibleness Through Professional Education

Suggesting that a technical or means orientation prevails in the professional preparation and practice of counselors, the authors state that more attention must be given to development of critical reflectiveness about valued ends when making professional judgments. They describe an instructional model designed to further students' capacities and motivations for making rational moral judgments in counseling. Instructional strategies involving independent-learning modules, critique, and dialogue are used to promote reflection on self and examination of moral questions. A pretest-posttest evaluation of a 10-week application of the teaching model found significant student gains in moral sensitivity.     

The Missing Triad: The Case of Two-Child Families

Families, as they grow, become more complex in their psychosocial development. They also become more complex in their dyadic/triadic structure through the simple addition of another child. This article traces some of the structural changes that families undergo with the entry of each new child. It also raises several questions about how these very structures may, in turn, influence development of the children. By comparing two- and three-children families with different dyadic/triadic structures, these questions offer some basis for possible future research, as well as some speculation for the clinician.