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Real life implications of Star wars philosophy

hiphophippy

hiphophippy

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I am very much a nerd when it comes to Star Wars. and I find myself often relating philosophical questions to the Star Wars universe.

But I'd like to ask everyone about their thoughts when they consider the two main codes of the starwars universe

Jedi
There is no emotion, there is peace.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no passion, there is serenity.
There is no chaos, there is harmony.
There is no death, there is the Force.




Sith
Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
The Force shall free me.

what are you opinions? which is more relevant, which rings with you. Anything. Peace
 
Interesting, I wasn't aware of those two codes.

I would say I've usually considered myself to be more aligned with the Jedi approach. But as time goes on the Sith code feels more true to me.

The zen peaceful type of approach just doesn't really attract me like it used to. I was certain that was the way I wanted to go but really I to prefer to create an exciting and engaging life if that is possible. Who knows :)
 
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I am all over this thread. Believe it or not, I am myself partial to Star Wars. I like to think of the Jedi as representing Enlightenment values, and the Sith as representing romanticism. Now, it might be easy to draw the conclusion that the Jedi are meant to be seen as the good guys, Sith as bad. However, I prefer the reading in which the morality is more complex. Luke ignores Yoda, and chooses his friends over his Jedi training. In doing so, he is clearly putting his emotions first, and so acting "Sithy". This turns out to be a good thing; he is able to save his friends. Remember, Vader brings balance to the force. I think that this is a powerful message for us; Apollo and Dionysus. This is why Star Wars is such a powerful thing, it really has a mythic quality. Anyone who has not seen "The Power of Myth" with Joseph Campbell should watch it today. I don't necessarily agree with Campbell, but he certainly has some interesting things to say, and I think that any philosophically minded Star Wars fan will enjoy it immensely.
 
star wars philosophy isn't anything to be studied and by no means new. all the best successes take old ideas and reintroduce them into the new generation. it's just science fiction revisiting an old idea. the question is whether or not you prefer the concept presented in that style.
 
fridgebuzz said:
star wars philosophy isn't anything to be studied and by no means new. all the best successes take old ideas and reintroduce them into the new generation. it's just science fiction revisiting an old idea. the question is whether or not you prefer the concept presented in that style.
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I am aware, it is just simpler to talk about a unified philosophy in the context of a fictional universe for two reasons 1.) it helps alleviate arguments about morality. 2.) since star wars is pretty globally popular it helps give a common base for examples, anecdotes and archetypes. My intention for this thread is not to study Star Wars' philosophy but to promote a peaceful philosophical discussion between people. " I find myself often relating philosophical questions to the Star Wars universe."


Vader said:
I am all over this thread. Believe it or not, I am myself partial to Star Wars. I like to think of the Jedi as representing Enlightenment values, and the Sith as representing romanticism. Now, it might be easy to draw the conclusion that the Jedi are meant to be seen as the good guys, Sith as bad. However, I prefer the reading in which the morality is more complex. Luke ignores Yoda, and chooses his friends over his Jedi training. In doing so, he is clearly putting his emotions first, and so acting "Sithy". This turns out to be a good thing; he is able to save his friends. Remember, Vader brings balance to the force. I think that this is a powerful message for us; Apollo and Dionysus. This is why Star Wars is such a powerful thing, it really has a mythic quality. Anyone who has not seen "The Power of Myth" with Joseph Campbell should watch it today. I don't necessarily agree with Campbell, but he certainly has some interesting things to say, and I think that any philosophically minded Star Wars fan will enjoy it immensely.
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I'm not sure I believe you Vader ;) Haha...

Umm it kind of hard to discuss sometimes but my favorite time period is that of the old republic. Which has an additional two orders, the Revanites and the grey Jedi as well as the presence of the mandalore. Revintes representing a neutral ground with favor for "dark" side techniques and the grey jedi the same with light. (I'd post the Revanites code but at this moment it would be illegal.) Though many think Mace Windu to be a grey jedi as well.
I believe this is related to my feelings about Dao, that is the about Moderation and Wu Wei. In that extremes (many not all, but ideological extremes usually) are not only illogical , but also sticking to one extreme often puts you in situations where you cannot do anything out of "principle" even though you could do something.
In moderation and action through inaction I I feel you are the "most powerful" which withing the Star Wars Mythos is also shown. That is (in order) the three most powerful force users were Star Killer (Vader secret apprentice), Revan and Mace Windu (sorry Yoda was a strong force user but he was not the most powerful jedi by any means.)

I align myself with the sith out of the two orders but I personally feel most like a revanite. That is I am more direct and act on intuition and feeling rather than think critically to an immediate situation. IE if I saw a group of guys kicking the shit out of another guy I would fight against the group most likely before considering that there might be a reason for the gang up. anti-mob effect mentatlity? Idk HAHA
 
Star Wars philosohy is great! I do like parts of both orders, I like the serenity part from the jedi as I think that's how you should go through life. I'm not the huge fan of how the Jedi order kind of forbids you from loving someone. That's kinda lame haha
 
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neonsun said:
Star Wars philosohy is great! I do like parts of both orders, I like the serenity part from the jedi as I think that's how you should go through life. I'm not the huge fan of how the Jedi I order kind of forbids you from loving someone. That's kinda lame haha
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Well the Jedi order forbids love because it teaches people to set another being before and in higher regards than others thus disrupting your harmony with others.
the real life implications of this maniefest themselves in many religious orders on our world.

On the flips side the sith order allows love but they express a very hardy warning of sith on sith realtionships. Chiefly because within the realtionship one will become inferior and eventually through frustration and rage attempt to kill the other. Sith + non force sensitive then is a great deal safer. The only thing I can think of that it relates to is an office romance? haha. In an office romance you might be able to work together peaceably, harder and achieve things, but what happens when one opportunity for advancement opens up? Where as finding a nice gf somewhere else could give you the motivation to work harder and what not as well.


__________
I'm looking for some pranksters into psychadelics in the Portland, OR area for fun, enlighteing and wild research. WITH A SIDE OF FUN!
 
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star wars philosophy isn't anything to be studied and by no means new. all the best successes take old ideas and reintroduce them into the new generation. it's just science fiction revisiting an old idea. the question is whether or not you prefer the concept presented in that style.
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You could say the same about all Western literature after the Odyssey.
 
The zen peaceful type of approach just doesn't really attract me like it used to. I was certain that was the way I wanted to go but really I to prefer to create an exciting and engaging life if that is possible. Who knows
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i don't think they're mutually exclusive. to me, zen peace and harmony doesn't mean ignoring one's passions. it means accepting everything, recognizing that everything is simply flowing, and trying to bend yourself in a way that lets that "flow" carry you smoothly.

i think we are all one, everything follows its natural path (and absolutely nothing is "unnatural"), and there is no division and there are no lines between anything*

* eg, ourselves and anything else are both a part of the same slab of universe, made of the same stuff, running on the same energy, and are in fact the same sort of thing... with no actual separation, unless viewed subjectively through a human brain. we and an apple are one. we and our technology are one, our eyeballs are cameras and our phones extend the information processing that determines how we react to the environment.

so... all is one, jedi approach.
Well the Jedi order forbids love because it teaches people to set another being before and in higher regards than others thus disrupting your harmony with others.
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i think that, when our species is emotionally intelligent enough, humans will be polyamorous.
 
qwe said:
i think that, when our species is emotionally intelligent enough, humans will be polyamorous.
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Very possibly. The current relationship "script" that we are told to follow does not seem to work particularly well for the majority of people. Personally I don't feel the need to have more than one long-term relationship if I'm able to find one that is suitable; but it's bullshit to pretend that we are not attracted to others or feel any sort of love/affection for them either. The type of love that I prefer or feel most is more universal and closer to friendship rather than a typical romantic relationship.
 
i don't buy any of the overtly simplified philosophy found in sw. anger and hate can both be very constructive if used in a controlled and sparing fashion. it works fine in a children's fantasy film, despite these zen monks doing an aweful lot of fighting.

the original trilogy only used lightsabre battles as a last resort. in the prequel trilogy they whip those puppies out so frequently, i wouldn't have been surprised to see obiwan crack open a beer with this weapon during some downtime.
 
L2R said:
i don't buy any of the overtly simplified philosophy found in sw. anger and hate can both be very constructive if used in a controlled and sparing fashion. it works fine in a children's fantasy film, despite these zen monks doing an aweful lot of fighting.

the original trilogy only used lightsabre battles as a last resort. in the prequel trilogy they whip those puppies out so frequently, i wouldn't have been surprised to see obiwan crack open a beer with this weapon during some downtime.
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wwell in the old movies there were only 3-4 light sabers. I figure if you had an entire batallion of war droids around you you would probably take your weapon out a lot too.

but aside form that this is a discussion about general philosophy and it seems like you have something to say.
 
i use the lightsabre situation as emphasis on the superficiality of the philosophy. i was a huge fan, got a bantha skull tat on my left shoulder, but right now everything george does is plain wrong. Along with my age, these things have lit the OT in a new light, and i don't like it.

specific to the "philosophy", the repression of emotion is hardly a gateway to peace

just my opinion
 
specific to the "philosophy", the repression of emotion is hardly a gateway to peace
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I don't think that's the message we're meant to take away. Han Solo becomes a hero when he puts aside his rationality (hard-nosed self-interest) and acts on his emotions. Luke's leaving Dagobah before his training is completed is another example. Balance is the key.
 
I pretty much am a Jedi, by code. But whatever, i get wasted and do crazy sith shit too :)
 
Great thread - all I would like is to have Yodas temperement & the ability to shoot lightening out of my fingertips. L2R is right about emotion & the gateway to peace but emotion is in my book a representation of the universal forces that ceaselessly turn the wheel of heaven - I so love a poetic turn of phrase.
 
^ i like that, well said mate.

another thought i've had is: how ethical is it to force a feeble minded person to do your will?

what if that stormtrooper lost a payrise or his job even from losing the fugitives? what if he was suffering mortgage stress as it was and that was like the straw that broke his family?

what if that gomoorian guard who let luke into jabba's palace was punished or tortured for the fuck up? dude's a gangster, the poor green bloke might have been killed!

that "death stick" dealer might have gone into prostitution when he went home to "rethink his life".

are jedi responsible for such consequences?

Vader said:
I don't think that's the message we're meant to take away. Han Solo becomes a hero when he puts aside his rationality (hard-nosed self-interest) and acts on his emotions. Luke's leaving Dagobah before his training is completed is another example. Balance is the key.
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han was entirely rational when he decided to stay, he wanted to score at least once with leia! :p

moonyham said:
I pretty much am a Jedi, by code. But whatever, i get wasted and do crazy sith shit too :)
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yeah, well i got the actual sword skills. =D
 
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