Moral reasoning and moral atmosphere in the domain of accounting

Abstract

Much criticism has been levelled at the accountancy profession, ranging from the failure of accounting documents to reveal a more accurate reflection of the financial well‐being/ill health of organizations and the collusion of accountants in the preparation and validation of those documents, to the failure of the accountancy profession satisfactorily to take account of the public interest in the determination of the future of accounting and auditing practice. At the heart of these issues is the moral base of the profession and accounting practice, a base which displays contradictory values at a normative level, while at an empirical level the evidence appears to be less ambiguous. Contends that accounting practice cannot be isolated from broader social practices; rather it is shaped by, but also helps sustain, wider social, economic and political developments. Begins with a consideration of Kohlberg′s framework of moral reasoning and then links it to the additional dimension of individualism. Concludes that, while accounting reflects the prevailing values of modernity, it is inadequate to excuse its moral base on this ground.

Citation

Lovell, A. (1995), "Moral reasoning and moral atmosphere in the domain of accounting", Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Vol. 8 No. 3, pp. 60-80. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513579510094697