The Nature of Accounting

Art vs. Science

Scientist vs. Artist

scientist artist 1. One, such as a painter or 1. A person having sculptor, who is able by virtue of expert knowledge of imagination and talent to create one or more sciences, works of aesthetic value, especially especially a natural or in the fine arts. physical science. 2. A person whose work shows

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition copyright 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from INSO Corporation. All rights reserved.

exceptional creative ability or skill: You are an artist in the kitchen. 3. One, such as an actor or a singer, especially one who works in the performing arts. 4. One who is adept at an activity, especially one involving trickery or deceit: a con artist.

Famous Quotations

Traditional scientific method has always been at the very best, 2020 hindsight. Its good for seeing where youve been. Its good for testing the truth of what you think you know, but it cant tell you where you ought to go.

Science may be described as the art of systematic oversimplification.

Karl Popper (b. 1902), Anglo-Austrian philosopher

Robert M. Pirsig (b. 1928), U.S. author. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,

1]The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations is licensed from Columbia University Press. Copyright 1993, 1995 by Columbia University Press. All rights reserved

Famous Quotations

The whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking.

Albert Einstein

Religion and art spring from the same root and are close kin. Economics and art are strangers.

Science is all metaphor.

Willa Cather

Timothy Leary

Art is the objectification of feeling.

Suzanne K. Langer

1]The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations is licensed from Columbia University Press. Copyright 1993, 1995 by Columbia University Press. All rights reserved

Definitions - Science
1. a. The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena. b. Such activities restricted to a class of natural phenomena. c. Such activities applied to an object of inquiry or study. 2. Methodological activity, discipline, or study: I've got packing a suitcase down to a science. 3. An activity that appears to require study and method: the science of purchasing. 4. Knowledge, especially that gained through experience.

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition copyright 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from INSO Corporation. All rights reserved.

Accounting as Science

As a group, discuss the following questions. Use evidence from the papers we have read to support your answers.

Why dont we consider accounting to be a science any more? What benefits might we see if we treated accounting as a science? What might be the consequences of treating accounting as a science? Should we go back to treating accounting as a science? Why or why not?

Definitions - Art

Human effort to imitate, supplement, alter, or counteract the work of nature. a. The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty, specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium. b. The study of these activities. c. The product of these activities; human works of beauty considered as a group. High quality of conception or execution, as found in works of beauty; aesthetic value. A field or category of art, such as music, ballet, or literature. A nonscientific branch of learning; one of the liberal arts.

Definitions Art (continued)

a. A system of principles and methods employed in the performance of a set of activities: the art of building. b. A trade or craft that applies such a system of principles and methods: the art of the lexicographer. a. Skill that is attained by study, practice, or observation: the art of the baker; the blacksmith's art. b. Skill arising from the exercise of intuitive faculties: Selfcriticism is an art not many are qualified to practice (Joyce Carol Oates). a. arts. Artful devices, stratagems, and tricks. b. Artful contrivance; cunning.

Definitions Art (continued)

Synonyms: art, craft, expertise, knack, knowhow, technique. The central meaning shared by these nouns is skill in doing or performing that is attained by study, practice, or observation: the art of expressing oneself clearly; pottery that reveals craft and fine workmanship; political expertise; a knack for teaching; the know-how to sew one's own clothes; an outstanding keyboard technique

1]The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition copyright 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from INSO Corporation. All rights reserved.

Accounting as Art

As a group, discuss the following questions. Use evidence from the papers we have read to support your answers.

Why do you think that we have begun to consider accounting to be an art? What benefits do you think we get from treating accounting as an art? What do you think are the consequences of treating accounting as an art? Should we continue to treat accounting as an art? Why or why not?

Accounting as a Language

Accounting is the language of business Related readings:

Chambers Loyd Heath Dan Thornton

Figures of Speech

Figure of speech - An expression in which words are used in a nonliteral way to achieve an effect beyond the range of ordinary language. simile (sme-l) noun A figure of speech in which two essentially unlike things are compared, often in a phrase introduced by like or as, as in How like the winter hath my absence been or So are you to my thoughts as food to life (Shakespeare).

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition copyright 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from INSO Corporation. All rights reserved.

metaphor (mte-fr, -fer) noun 1. A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another, thus making an implicit comparison, as in a sea of troubles or All the world's a stage (Shakespeare). 2. One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol: The high-rise garbage repository is a metaphor for both accomplishment and failure (Richard Sever).

Accounting as Language

As a group, discuss the following questions. Use evidence from the papers we have read to support your answers.

What is the point of the typewriter story? Have you ever seen mistakes or mistaken ideas caused by some of the accounting metaphors that Heath describes? How does Thornton answer Heaths concerns that we are confusing the map with the territory? Why are metaphors important? If accounting is a language, are we using it well or poorly?

Is Accounting an Art or a Science?

No Opinion
Neither Art Nor Science Both and Art and Science Science Art

3%
3% 22% 22% 50%

Stuhldreher, Walter F. 1973. Accounting: Art or Science? The Federal Accountant, Vol. 22, No. 2 (June), pp. 74-76.

Where does Accounting Fit?

ART

LAW

Science

MATH

Where you do think accounting fits in?

Why do you think I set up the continuum link this? Isnt science more formal than math?

How about 3 dimensions?

Art

Science

?
Math MATH
A R T

Accounting

Science