"This is the correct answer."
Ren showed his notebook. Mathematical formulas lined up.
"In math, there are correct answers," Noa said. "But in life?"
"Life has no correct answers, people often say. But is that true?"
Noa thought. "What does correctness refer to?"
"It can be divided into three. Logical correctness, factual correctness, normative correctness."
"Difficult."
"Let me give examples. '2+2=4' is logically correct."
"That's undeniable."
"'The Earth is round' is factually correct. Observable evidence confirms it."
"So normative correctness?"
"'You shouldn't lie.' This is a value judgment."
Noa nodded. "The third one is ambiguous."
"Exactly. Norms change by culture and era."
"So there's no universal correctness?"
Ren answered carefully. "There are positions believing in absolute truth, and relativism."
"Relativism?"
"All values are relative. No absolute correctness exists, that's the idea."
Noa countered. "But isn't 'murder is wrong' universal?"
"Shared by many cultures. But there are exceptions in war and capital punishment."
"Depending on context?"
"From a utilitarian view, judge by results. From Kant's view, judge by motives."
Noa was confused. "The same action's correctness changes?"
"That's the difficulty of ethics. There's no single answer."
"So seeking correctness is meaningless?"
Ren shook his head. "Not meaningless. Rather, necessary."
"But there's no answer?"
"Absence of answers and the value of asking are separate."
Noa asked, "Why is correctness necessary?"
"For social stability. Without common standards, chaos ensues."
"But that standard differs per person."
"That's why dialogue is needed. Those with different correctness talk."
Noa thought. "What about imposing correctness?"
"Dangerous. Much evil has been done in the name of justice."
"Absolutizing one's own correctness."
"Fanaticism. Obsession. Losing flexibility."
Noa looked at the window. "So give up on correctness?"
"Not give up, but relativize. Your correctness is also just one perspective."
"Humility?"
"Socrates' 'knowing that you know nothing.' Knowing what you don't know."
Noa laughed. "The contradiction of discussing correctness while not knowing."
"The human condition. We lack complete knowledge, yet must still judge."
"Provisional correctness then?"
"Good expression. Temporary correctness, always revisable."
Noa asked, "But is that enough?"
"Not about enough or not. That's all there is."
"Resignation?"
"No, hope. Because we can admit errors and revise."
Noa nodded. "Scientific attitude."
"Yes. Falsifiability. Courage to admit mistakes."
"Letting go of attachment to correctness?"
Ren answered, "Not attachment, but continuing the search. But not absolutizing."
"The balance is difficult."
"Difficult. That's why philosophy exists."
Noa laughed. "Correctly thinking about correctness."
"Recursive. But that's the essence of thought."
They fell silent. The illusion of correctness, yet a necessary guideline.
Noa said, "Is correctness a tool?"
"Both tool and goal. Unreachable, but worth pursuing."
"Like the horizon."
"Good metaphor. Approaching but retreating again."
Noa stood up. "Then keep walking."
"Yes. Don't stop. That's honesty toward correctness."
Ren smiled. "Correctness never completes. Always incomplete."
"Incomplete is okay?"
"Incomplete is good. Completion means the end of thought."
Noa looked out the window. The sunset fading. The definition of correctness also wavering.
"Is correctness a journey?"
"Yes. Not an answer, but continuing to ask."
They left the room. Seeking correctness, yet the answer isn't found. Still, they walk.