The withering of tolerance and communication in interdisciplinary accounting studies

Purpose – A reply to Tony Tinker's paper, “ The withering of criticism” . Design/methodology/approach – The paper employs argument and discourse to critique Tinker's paper and defend the author's position. Findings – The paper shows how oddly our work has been represented, and that Tinker's claims are unsupported. It rejects Tinker's reading of classical texts as the only valid one, and argues that his reductionist critique could hinder the advancement of interdisciplinary accounting research. We conclude our reply by urging scholars to intervene in worldly affairs by ensuring that intellectual activity is diverse, not stereotypical or predictable. Originality/value – Argues the importance of scholars' engagement in worldly affairs, including matters of policy and practice, from diverse perspectives.