Jedi Philosophy

I was discussing Star Wars episode III with my neighbor last night. It is a great movie by the way, and this time not only because... well it is Star Wars. He also loved the movie but was disappointed that there wasn't more cheesy dialogue and bad acting. In a way it did not live up to the Star Wars legacy.

Episode III did have a few gems of dialogue however. I particularly was amused by "only the Sith deal in absolutes". This line was the inspiration for the title of this blog. I find it amusing that the line is so obviously self-contradicting; this statement itself is an absolute statement. What I find less amusing is the sentiment portrayed by this statement. The implication is that the Jedi are moral relativists, existing in a space where good and bad don't really exist, while the Sith are intolerant polarizing zealots. This is an untenable perspective on many levels and for many reasons. Primarily, if absolutes are removed from the belief system, how can an argument against those that believe in absolutes even be framed? The best we can possible do is, "absolutists are... what they just are, because they can't possible be evil because evil doesn't exist." So, it turns out that the Sith are not evil and the dark side isn't really so dark but rather a different (not to be construed as inferior) shade of gray. Saying otherwise would be absolutism and would be... not really bad because there isn't such a thing; perhaps a violation of leftist code, which is somehow bad even though there isn't such a thing.

Nobody on earth really believes in the virtue of non-absolutes. The very act of such a person coming forth with such a belief would contradict the belief. Moral relativity arises, rather, as a negative reaction to those who seem overly willing to assert their specific beliefs on others. Nobody is an island, and so to some degree we all do this, but the specific leftist reaction I refer to is a broad reaction to various perceived injustices. For example, the unkind treatment of blacks and other groups of people by those who espouse strong beliefs has left many with a bad taste for strong beliefs.

Is having beliefs really to blame, or rather is it having the wrong beliefs? I think most of the time it is neither; rather it is simply weak character. Regardless of religion, most of us intuitively know good from evil (at least on really important matters), but to various degrees sometimes do things we know we shouldn't. From there, our ability to self-justify is astounding, often to the point of inventing and portraying obscure belief systems to match our actual actions. It is either this, or admit to ourselves and others that we are in the wrong and take the painful steps necessary to change. In this manner many have justified horrible actions while pointing to their invented beliefs saying, "I am not bad, I am acting in accordance with this, my belief system." For those outside of the lie, this is utterly repulsive (and for good reason). Unfortunately, however, this repulsion combined with discomfort with our own weaknesses, leads many of us to the belief that beliefs (absolutes) are... well... bad. Such a stance is not harmless though. If we do not acknowledge evil as evil, we cannot esteem or condemn anything! Any act is justified because there are no absolutes. In short, if we do not seek to find true virtue and vice, how can we possibly build a better or even sustainable society?!

At heart, the average liberal and conservative are the same. They wish to be happy and for others to be happy. Both recognize that such happiness is the fruit of love and kindness. As I mention, however, the left's attempt to remove right and wrong in reaction to those who self-justify in the name of righteousness, will only pull society down. On the other hand, those who hold public their absolute beliefs (usually conservatives) have an obligation to honest and humble devotion to truth, not justification.

Returning to Star Wars, everybody knows that the Jedi are good and the Sith are bad. This is not because the Sith have absolute beliefs and the Jedi do not, but because the Jedi beliefs are good and the Sith's are bad. All but the most numb who watch episode III will feel a sense of loss as Anakin steps away from happiness. It is natural to want good to win, unless we are uncomfortable with our own actions and wish to justify them.