Pak Herman nodded. "That's about right. There are benefits, but also drawbacks. The world isn't truly black and white, but if the system doesn't follow that pattern, people can have a hard time distinguishing the boundaries. That's why they choose to create strict and simple rules."
"So, is all of this just a control mechanism?" Marlon asked.
"Not exactly," Pak Herman replied, "It's more of a way to prevent people from stressing over complex issues. Some people are more comfortable when life is clear-cut: this is good, this is bad. But if you want to dig deeper, feel free, just don't stress yourself out."
Riri laughed. "Too late, Pak. Marlon's been stressed out since high school."
Marlon grunted. "Pfft. So basically, this is all about comfort and making it easy to control people, right? Not about what's right or wrong?"
"Exactly. That's why people who realize the world is gray usually end up more confused. But that's okay, as long as you have your own guiding principles. Just don't get lost in it."
Pak Herman took a small spoon and stirred his coffee, smiling mischievously. "By the way, speaking of black and white, do you prefer chocolate or vanilla ice cream?"
Riri immediately answered, "Chocolate, of course!"
Marlon thought for a moment. "What about mixing them, Pak?"
Pak Herman laughed. "Ah, now that's the gray area!"
They all laughed, while outside, the remnants of the rain left puddles reflecting the streetlights of the city park.
Marlon continued the discussion. "You know, I found a great piece on cognitive development theory," Marlon tried to explain to Pak Herman and Riri.
"The theory of the stages of thinking humans use to see and understand the world. One theory that encompasses this concept is cognitive development, which involves the ability to differentiate variables in thinking. Here's the explanation in four stages," Marlon continued.
Stage 1: Dichotomous (Binary) Thinking – Only Differentiating A and BAt this stage, one is only capable of seeing the world in black and white or right and wrong. There are no gray areas, so the thinking process is very simple and absolute.
Example: "This is good, that is bad." / "Poor people are lazy, rich people are hardworking."
This is similar to the thinking of children or people still bound by strong dogmas without considering the complexity of the world.
In Indonesia, many public discussions are still trapped in this stage, where people often think in extreme dualities without considering other factors.
Stage 2: Relational (Spectrum) Thinking – The Emergence of a Scale Between A and BAt this stage, one begins to realize that not everything consists of two absolute choices. There are various levels between A and B, so the world is no longer just black and white, but has gradients.
Example: "There are poor people who are hardworking, and rich people who are lazy."
People begin to realize that other factors play a role in phenomena, such as background, environment, and opportunity.
This stage allows one to begin thinking more flexibly and understanding the complexity of social realities.
Stage 3: Multivariate Thinking – Involving Many Variables in AnalysisAt this stage, one doesn't just see the difference between A and B, but also understands that many other factors can influence a situation.
Example: "Poverty is not only caused by laziness or hard work, but also by access to education, economic policies, social environment, and cultural factors."
People start thinking systemically, seeing broader cause-and-effect relationships in an issue.
At this stage, one is able to link various aspects of an issue and seek more complex solutions.
Stage 4: Holistic and Dialectical Thinking – Integrating Contradictory ParadigmsThis is a more mature stage of thinking, where one is able to understand that differing perspectives don't have to negate each other but can be synthesized into a deeper new understanding.
Example: "Poverty isn't just about the individual, but also about the social structure. Therefore, the solution isn't just hard work, but also fairer policies."
This type of thinking allows one to find common ground between seemingly contradictory viewpoints, leading to more balanced solutions.
At this stage, one is no longer trapped in black-and-white debates or a simple spectrum but can embrace various perspectives to understand a phenomenon comprehensively.
The theory that divides human thinking into four stages—Dichotomous (Binary) Thinking, Relational (Spectrum) Thinking, Multivariate Thinking, and Holistic and Dialectical Thinking—does not directly come from Jean Piaget's cognitive development theory. However, it can be considered an adaptation or development of various theories on critical thinking and cognitive development.
Additionally, the concept of these thinking stages I've explained may also relate to the theory of critical thinking and moral development, as proposed by William Perry in his theory of intellectual and ethical development in college students, which includes stages from dualism (dichotomous thinking) to relativism and eventually commitment in relativism," Marlon said in a lengthy explanation.