A Role for the Compulsory Study of Literature in Accounting Education

Abstract

Literature can make a multi-faceted contribution to higher education—especially in a highly vocational field of study such as accounting. Such fields suffer particular pressure to impart ‘marketable skills’ in response to student demand, governments, and the professional bodies. Literature militates against the threat of ‘de-disciplining’. Literature hones and enriches expression. It reinforces original, creative, imaginative and multicultural thought. By adding a disciplinary dimension, literature encourages reflective consideration of ideas in terms of the difference which they make to other ideas. Studied holistically literature sets important issues into the context of human endeavour and choices. Not least literature is prophetic. The labour market will, in the long run, penalise those who lack the qualities which can be uniquely imparted by a study of literature.

Keywords:

• Accounting education
• literature