Bhinneka Tunggal Ika as Indonesian social ontology: study of socio-political philosophy

Bhinneka Tunggal Ika is the national motto of Indonesia, which is home to diverse religions and ethnicities. Therefore, this study aims to examine the formula of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika as a social ontology concerning the problems of “the One” and “the Many,” which lead to monism and pluralism, respectively. The formula of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika is explored on two theoretical and practical levels, using a philosophical study method. At the theoretical level ( in abstracto ), the essence and existence of “ Tunggal ” and “ Bhinneka ” are analyzed. The results show that “Tunggal” constitutes unum metaphysicum rather than unum matemathicum or unum logicum , while “Bhinneka” reflects pluralism in analogia entis , emphasizing unity in diversity rather than equivocitas entis . This report presents three forms of unity in human social reality: unum in se (God), unum per se (the individual), and unum per accidens (society). Furthermore, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika depends on a metaphysical foundation that integrates unity and diversity within a coherent ontological framework. In practical contexts such as religion, law, and politics, the implementation remains distant from the philosophical perspectives, suggesting a persistent gap between theory and practice. Therefore, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika continues to function largely as a normative concept rather than an effectively realized principle in social life.