Reflection on Accounting Histography: From Double Entry to Ethics, Conservatism, and Sustainability

Rhis Ogie Dewandaru; Ilham Nuryana Fatchan; Alfato Yusnar Kharismasyah; Yudhistira Pradhipta Aryoko; Ali Akbar Anggara

doi:10.33581/fnqs2m48

Authors

Rhis Ogie Dewandaru Department of Accounting, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto, Purwokerto, Indonesia 53182
Ilham Nuryana Fatchan Department of Accounting, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto, Purwokerto, Indonesia 53182
Alfato Yusnar Kharismasyah Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto, Purwokerto, Indonesia 53182
Yudhistira Pradhipta Aryoko Department of Business Administration, College of Management, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Yunlin, Taiwan 64002
Ali Akbar Anggara Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto, Purwokerto, Indonesia 53182

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33581/fnqs2m48

Keywords:

critical history, antiquarian history, medieval, early modern, double entry, accounting, bookkeeping, indonesia lens

Abstract

Economic historians argue that before 1800, double-entry bookkeeping was used primarily to manage debt and oversee distant agents, factors, and partners. Its role in measuring overall profit or wealth was limited, usually arising only when accountability to others was required. These conclusions, drawn from primary records interpreted within their broader business context, contrast sharply with traditional antiquarian narratives. The latter emphasized technical detail, relied on presentist and teleological assumptions, and neglected contextual or critical reflection. As a result, they focused on the “what” and “how” of bookkeeping while leaving the more fundamental question of “why” unexplored, thereby obscuring motivations and producing questionable assumptions that became accepted as fact. This narrow, Eurocentric framing shaped by influential figures such as Pacioli, Besta, and Yamey placed double-entry bookkeeping at the center of accounting progress while marginalizing earlier systems and overlooking social, political, and ethical dimensions. A broader review of the literature, however, reveals more complexity. Classical scholarship remains highly technical, critical approaches reinterpret accounting as both disciplinary and ethical, global studies demonstrate diverse and non-linear development paths, and Indonesian research emphasizes ethics, prudence, and sustainability, with scandals such as Jiwasraya and Garuda Indonesia underscoring the importance of governance and transparency.

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