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<\/p>\nPhilosophy and the Force<\/b><\/p>\n
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\u201cThe Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It\u2019s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the Galaxy together.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cQi is the vital force that gives life to all forms of the Universe. It is a vibrating component of existence, continuous flow of life at the molecular, atomic, and sub-atomic levels.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n For decades, audiences around the world have been captivated by the mystical Force imagined by George Lucas in his Star Wars universe. Obi-Wan\u2019s famous line about the Force in 1977\u2019s <\/span>A New Hope <\/span><\/i>gives us an introduction to the all-encompassing nature of this mythical energy. Its power is alluring and impressive, but perhaps more important is the philosophical value surrounding the Force and how it relates to philosophies of our own world. Many Star Wars viewers like myself are mesmerized by the Force, even to the point where some claim it as their own belief system. In fact, 177,000 people declared Jediism as their religion in a 2011 census of England and Wales (BBC News). However, the charity commission in charge of this survey deemed that Jediism was not a legitimate system of belief. They claimed that there was insufficient evidence that \u201cmoral improvement\u201d and a \u201cnecessary spiritual or non-secular element\u201d were a part of Jedi teachings (BBC News). Although some of the people surveyed allegedly were atheists and chose Jediism as a tongue-in-cheek response to religion being added to the census, many others do see Jediism as an appealing belief system. In fact, there is even a church of Jediism founded in the UK (BBC News).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Why then would the Force be so influential among fans and in pop-culture if it lacks what it takes to be a real belief system? Some viewers revere the philosophy of the Star Wars films while there is also <\/span>\u201ca substantial contingent of people who believe there is very little profundity to be found beyond all the special effects and computer-generated imagery\u201d (McDonald 2). <\/span>What I will explore in this paper is how the Force and the teachings of the Jedi who wield it relate to religious traditions and philosophies throughout the world and its history. By relating the Force to real-life religions and philosophies, we can better understand its broader messages. This will also help us explore the validity of the 2011 census\u2019 claim that \u201cmoral improvement\u201d is not central to the study of the Jedi and the Force. What I will try to prove is that Jediism and the Star Wars narrative <\/span>do <\/span><\/i>include evidence of legitimate moral and philosophical value.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To begin our understanding of the force, we will first analyze the philosophy of Taoism, which grew out of various religious and philosophical traditions in ancient China. The Tao signifies \u2018the way,\u2019 and emphasizes finding balance and harmony with nature and living things. Taoism is governed by energy called <\/span>\u6c14, or qi, which gives life to all beings. As explained in Taoist teachings, <\/span>\u201cQi is a grand vital force that permeates the whole Cosmos, in fact, it is the Cosmos itself\u201d (Danylova 2). The idea of qi tells us that Taoism is focused on connecting with that which connects the universe. Avid Star Wars fans should immediately see how similar the principle of qi is to that of the Force. Whereas qi in Taoism represents the \u201ccontinuous flow of life at the molecular, atomic, and sub-atomic levels\u201d (Danylova 2), the Force connects and flows through all life forms in a similar fashion. Like Obi-Wan describes to Luke in <\/span>A New Hope, <\/span><\/i>the Force is \u201can energy field created by all living things…that surrounds us and penetrates us\u201d and \u201cbinds the galaxy together\u201d (<\/span>A New Hope <\/span><\/i>34:40). Jedi Masters such as Yoda describe feeling the force working in and around them. Similarly to qi in Taoism, the Force is everlasting and connects things together.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A symbol ubiquitous in Taoism and well-recognized today is the taijitu, or yin-yang symbol. The dark side, or yin, and light side, or yang, represent dualisms in nature such as the day and night and the coexistence of both sides. The swirl of the yin-yang also shows how nature is always changing. Yin and yang are not stagnant but instead can transform into each other. This is also shown in the symbol itself: within the yin, there is a dot of the yang, and within the yang, there is a dot of the yin. If we look at the dualism of the light and dark sides of the Force in Star Wars through this lens, we understand that in one Force-user there is neither pure light or pure darkness. Though Luke aligns with the light side, there is always the looming possibility of him turning to the dark. Similarly, though Vader has been corrupted by the dark side, he still has light within him. As Anakin turns to the dark side and is then redeemed back to the light in <\/span>Return of the Jedi, <\/span><\/i>we understand that the light and dark sides of the Force coexist within each entity. As nothing is purely light nor dark, there is the possibility to change alignments and transform.<\/span><\/p>\n One other important similarity between the Jedi and followers of Taoism is that both believe that when people die, they become one with their respective forces and live on through it forever. There is a tale of a Taoist man who engages in merriment after the death of his wife, which causes disdain among the man\u2019s friends. The man, Zhuangzi, \u201cregards his late wife as simply a fleeting form assumed by <\/span>\u6c14\u201d (Irwin 200). This is because Zhuangzi sees death not as an end, but a transformation as his wife becomes one with the energy of life. The Jedi similarly become one with the Force upon their death, with some even being able to manifest themselves as Force spirits and interact with the physical world (\u201cForce Spirits,\u201d Wookieepedia). Like Zhuangzi sees his wife\u2019s death as a reunion with nature, Obi-Wan says that he will only become more powerful upon his death at the hands of Vader (<\/span>A New Hope<\/span><\/i> 1:30:50) as he will become one with the Force.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Another philosophical parallel is that of Stoicism, which was founded in Athens around 300 B.C.E. The Stoics emphasized restraint from emotions and desires in a search of a higher degree of rationality. As explained in <\/span>The Ultimate Star Wars and Philosophy, <\/span><\/i>\u00a0\u201cJust as they protect the galaxy, Jedi are also called upon to keep the peace <\/span>within themselves<\/span><\/i> by aligning their wills to the Force. This requires self-restraint, abstinence from worldly pleasures\u201d (Irwin 20). The Jedi adopted an unindulgent lifestyle, and although they \u201c<\/span>were not necessarily celibate, they were not allowed to marry or have familiar attachments\u201d (McDonald 126). The Jedi and Stoics accept a hard life rather than an easy one. <\/span>This is echoed in <\/span>The Empire Strikes Back, <\/span><\/i>as Yoda urges Luke not to leave his training on Dagobah by telling him, \u201cIf you choose the quick and easy path, as Vader did, you will become an agent of evil\u201d (<\/span>Empire Strikes Back <\/span><\/i>1:24:17). It is easy to be tempted by the dark side, but it takes restraint to stay with the light. While the Sith are consumed by anger and hatred, the Jedi, like Stoics, do not let themselves be controlled by their emotions. This is solidified when Yoda says his famous quote in <\/span>The Phantom Menace<\/span><\/i>: \u201c<\/span>Fear is the path to the dark side\u2026fear leads to anger\u2026anger leads to hate\u2026hate leads to suffering\u201d (<\/span>The Phantom Menace<\/span><\/i>). Anakin\u2019s character is a clear narrative example of this process, as his fear of losing Padme leads him down the path described by Yoda.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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