Recontextualizing Ethical Meanings from Sewaka Darma: A Ricoeurian Hermeneutic Approach to Contemporary Family Character Education

Abstract

The growing concern over moral degradation and various forms of deviant behavior among Indonesian adolescents has become a critical challenge in fostering a well-characterized younger generation. This phenomenon indicates that character formation within the family, as the earliest and most fundamental educational institution, continues to encounter numerous challenges. Parents’ roles in transmitting values, providing exemplary behavior, and establishing effective guidance are closely connected to the cultural norms and local wisdom embedded within society. Therefore, exploring indigenous cultural heritage offers a strategic pathway for formulating character education concepts that are aligned with national and cultural identity. This study aims to explore and interpret family character education values embodied in the ancient Sundanese manuscript Sewaka Darma. A qualitative approach with a literature-based research method was employed and analyzed using Paul Ricoeur’s hermeneutic framework through semantic, reflective, and existential stages of interpretation, supported by expert validation. The findings identify four major dimensions of character education, including the understanding of human existence through the concept of Dasa Sila, the cultivation of self-discipline through Dasa Indria, the stages of moral development within Dasa Kalesa, and the preservation of character through the harmonious values of Bayu, Sabda, and Hedap. These findings demonstrate that the intellectual heritage contained in Sewaka Darma provides a meaningful conceptual foundation for developing culturally responsive family-based character education in addressing contemporary societal challenges.