Marlon gave a faint smile. "Yes, Sir. You're a living example that greed can drive the economy. But also an example that if it's too much, it can lead to a downfall."
Pak Herman sighed. "So the key isn't about avoiding sin or just doing good deeds, but about how we maintain balance between the two, right?"
Romo returned to the earlier discussion. "But if we go back to the concept of amar ma'ruf nahi munkar, here's the issue: we often think the world should operate according to the ideal values we've been taught. We want a society that's just, honest, generous, and humble. But in reality? The world doesn't work that way."
Marlon looked at Romo seriously. "That's what confuses me. If those values are true, why does reality seem to go against them?"
Romo gave a small smile. "Maybe because we live in an imperfect world."
Marlon fell silent for a moment, trying to process Romo's words.
Riri chimed in. "But if that's the case, then does it mean the world will never align with the theories of goodness we've learned?"
Romo shrugged. "Not that it never will… but there will always be a gap. The world keeps moving, people keep changing, and values sometimes have to adapt to the situation. That's why there are still people who choose to do good in the midst of this imperfect world. They know the outcome might not be what they hope for—but they do it anyway."
Marlon stared at Romo intently. "So the point isn't whether the world aligns with theory or not, but more about how we respond to the reality we face?"
Romo nodded. "Exactly. Maybe the world isn't perfect, but that doesn't mean we can't try to do something about it."
Pak Herman gave a small smile. "And maybe that's the art of living, huh? Finding a way to keep going, to keep doing good, without losing yourself in the process."
Everyone fell silent for a moment, letting the words settle in their minds.
Riri finally exclaimed, "Wow, if we turned this into a journal article, it would be super long!"
Marlon laughed. "Or… a novel!"
Romo just smiled, sipping the last of his tea. That night's discussion might not have led to a final answer, but at least, they were beginning to understand that the world is far more complex than just black and white.
In the end, the world is grey.
The living room still felt warm from the previous conversation. But Marlon didn't seem fully satisfied. He sat leaning back, arms crossed over his chest, eyes staring blankly at the table in front of him.
Riri glanced at her twin. "What's with you? You've had that 'I-lost-my-house-keys' look for a while now."
Marlon sighed, then looked around at everyone in the room. "I've just been thinking about one thing… If theories in books exist because they've been studied and tested—becoming knowledge we can learn—then shouldn't the values we're taught about life work the same way?"
Pak Herman raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Marlon rubbed his face, trying to organize his thoughts more clearly. "Like, when we study physics or economics, theories emerge because they've been tested repeatedly. Gravity, for instance, is real—we can prove it. Or supply and demand, we can see that directly in trade."
Romo nodded. "And?"
Marlon leaned back on the sofa, eyes serious. "So, what about the moral values we've learned since we were kids? For example, we're taught to always be honest, always do good, to believe that kindness will be repaid with kindness. But in reality? We often see that honesty gets taken advantage of, good people lose to the cunning, and many successful people get there not because they're good—but because they're opportunistic."
Riri looked at Marlon with curiosity. "So, you mean… we've been taught something that has no real basis?"
Marlon sighed. "Not that it has no basis. But… what is the basis? If these values are truly right and worth following, then the world should reflect them. But the reality? We clearly see the difference between idealism and reality."
Pak Herman chuckled softly. "Wow, this is heavy. You two really are philosophy students, huh?"
Romo, who had been quiet, finally spoke. "I understand your restlessness, Marlon. I've questioned the same thing myself. I was raised in a community with strong religious teachings, and since I was young, I believed the world would run according to those moral laws. But once I stepped into the real world, I began to see many things that didn't align with what I was taught."
Pak Herman nodded slowly. "Yeah. Back when I was younger, I also believed that hard work would lead to success, that if you were good to people, they'd be good to you too. But in reality… many people work themselves to the bone and still stay poor. A lot of kind people get betrayed. The world isn't as simple as moral theories."
Marlon looked at Romo with intensity. "Exactly. If moral theory were truly correct, there shouldn't be such a big gap between theory and reality. I'm starting to doubt… whether the values we believe in truly come from reality, or if they were just taught to us so we'd remain obedient."
Riri looked at Marlon, puzzled. "You mean we've been lied to this whole time?"
Marlon shook his head. "Not lied to. But maybe… we've just inherited values that aren't necessarily aligned with today's world. Or maybe those values weren't born from reality, but from certain interests."
Romo crossed his arms. "This is a deep conversation. When we talk about moral values, many come from religion, philosophy, and human social experience. They've been passed down for generations. But the question is: did those values emerge because they were proven true in reality—or just because we were told to believe they're true?"
Pak Herman smiled faintly. "So, are you saying all the moral lessons our parents taught us are no longer relevant?"
Marlon paused before answering. "Not irrelevant. But maybe… they need to be re-evaluated. We have to distinguish between what's truly proven in real life, and what's merely dogma passed down without being questioned."
Riri leaned back on the sofa. "But if everyone starts questioning moral values, wouldn't the world fall into chaos?"