Discussion Star Wars | The Will to Power | Analyzing the Philosophy, Psychology, Myths & Archetypes of the Saga

[Starlin Rand]

 

[Brandyn Sal-Soren]

These videos are my thing. Thanks!

 

[Gren Blidh]

A good insight into what Star Wars was originally supposed to be about, before the sequels and the Expanded Universe. Before the strange mixture of Western and Eastern philosophies was retrofitted onto Star Wars, Lucas was simply retelling the heroic saga of the everyman's rise to power, albeit somewhat subconsciously.

Of course, this is only what Star Wars began as and not what it eventually became. In A New Hope the Jedi and Sith (obviously a nonexistent term at the time) were never given a coherent ideology, beyond the Jedi being depicted as vaguely in tune with nature while characters like Darth Vader and the Empire were anti-nature, relying on cold machinery and industrialism to survive. If the video had included a discussion of the later prequels and Expanded Universe, we see this "Will to Power" at least where the protagonists are concerned, turned on its head. Once the Expanded Universe created the Jedi Code and the prequels cemented it as canon, the Jedi represent what Nietzsche would term slave morality. Their ideology demands the death of the self for the greater good, whatever that may be. This is directly contrasted with the Sith who embody master morality, the total affirmation of the ego, just a very extreme and destructive version of it.

The ironic part is that both paths are a dualism of extremes that ultimately lead to ruin. Nietzsche claimed that all civilizations begin with men willing to exert control over the weak, a.k.a. master morality, yet ironically the Sith only seem capable of destroying society and indeed all life in their quest for power. On the flip side, the Jedi, as extreme slave moralists, forbid themselves from their own humanity, which is why so many of them end up falling to the Dark Side. Meanwhile, the Force acts as a lynchpin for all of this, necessitating that there ONLY be these two options if you are a Force User. You cannot choose a middle path. You either follow the Light (and give up your humanity) or the Force itself will work to subvert and crush you because it is the embodiment of life and the natural order.

When looked at in this way, existence in the Star Wars universe is more like a prison, at least for Force Users. Far from the original message of Will to Power that the first movie vaguely alluded to.

 

[Starlin Rand]

When looked at in this way, existence in the Star Wars universe is more like a prison, at least for Force Users. Far from the original message of Will to Power that the first movie vaguely alluded to.

This is pretty much exactly why I struggle to enjoy most of the EU, at least in terms of the ideas and philosophies that material presents. There's a huge disconnect between the ideas of the OT and the rest of the saga.

 

[Gren Blidh]

This is pretty much exactly why I struggle to enjoy most of the EU, at least in terms of the ideas and philosophies that material presents. There's a huge disconnect between the ideas of the OT and the rest of the saga.

Despite what he now claims, George Lucas never intended to make sequels to Star Wars, because he never thought it would be successful. That's why the first movie has themes that reflect a one-off retelling of the hero's journey and it's only later that this message gets contorted as George Lucas fleshes out a Star Wars "universe".

But elements of what would become the Jedi philosophy were present in the OT, just not as clearly spelled out as they would be later. Like in Empire Strikes Back when Obi-Wan and Yoda advise Luke against rescuing his friends, and tell him to effectively sever all attachments to them, or risk falling to the Dark Side.

So the Zen Buddhist philosophy was there from the beginning, but the prequels took things a step further by introducing the idea that the Force not only has a will, it is capable of exerting its will. In this respect the Force is less similar to Eastern traditions and appears closer to a God or Demiurge from esoteric Christianity, or perhaps the Fates from various European pagan religions.

Where does that leave Will to Power? Your destiny is set; the only thing you can do is face it with honor and enjoy the time you have in stoic defiance of whatever fate has apportioned you. Unfortunately in Star Wars canon, it's not that simple, because the will of the Force is to achieve balance by crushing the Dark Side. Lucas is very clear about what Balance means, there is no alternative interpretation. Furthermore, there is no way to neutrally interface with the Force. There are two paths, Light and Dark, and anything in between will result in either apathy or an eventual fall to the Dark Side, such is the allure of its power. So if you are born powerful, it is your existential duty to sacrifice your humanity for the greater good. Exerting your own will, even as simple as forming relationships or keeping possessions, is seen as potentially dangerous and the Force will work to subvert you. This is why the Jedi Order exists - to restrain Force Users in the name of protecting life.

So, the self-actualization messages in A New Hope are what got us in the door, but then Lucas turned around and made a world with far more ghoulish ramifications than we had imagined. If you are born special, seeking free will is essentially punishable by death. It could potentially make for some really interesting stories and themes, but up to this point very few characters in Star Wars have engaged with these ideas directly. The will of the Force is mostly taken for granted by the Jedi and the Sith believe either it doesn't exist, or that they can subvert it (which they can't).

 

[Starlin Rand]

Like in Empire Strikes Back when Obi-Wan and Yoda advise Luke against rescuing his friends, and tell him to effectively sever all attachments to them, or risk falling to the Dark Side.

I thought they advised against it because it was an obvious trap set up by Vader (technically on the Emperor's orders) in hopes of capturing Luke. The carbonite freeze was set up and tested on Han specifically with the end goal of using it on Luke, because Vader wanted his wayward son within his grasp - he wanted to control Luke's destiny.

But anyway, thank you for your input, you are one of the most eloquent people I've encountered on Chaos and I think you are right, for the most part. Right down to the "ghoulish ramifications" of a bunch of mortals running around with godlike powers, even if they are gifted these powers at the will of a "god" in the form of the Force. It would seem that the outcome presented by the Star Wars universe is the reason why "thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" is a thing.

Welp, time to sign up for the New Way and/or the Chaldean Potentium, I guess.

 

[Gren Blidh]

I thought they advised against it because it was an obvious trap set up by Vader (technically on the Emperor's orders) in hopes of capturing Luke. The carbonite freeze was set up and tested on Han specifically with the end goal of using it on Luke, because Vader wanted his wayward son within his grasp - he wanted to control Luke's destiny.

You're right, that definitely played into it. It's also worth noting that Obi-Wan and Yoda were afraid to let Luke find out the truth about his father to avoid the feeling of familial attachment. Throughout the OT it's pretty well established that the Jedi follow a vaguely Right Hand Path philosophy that involves acting selflessly and being emotionally detached from the physical world. But yes, it was left vague enough that the Jedi wouldn't necessarily be perceived as the asexual emotionless monks that the prequels would later turn them into.

Welp, time to sign up for the New Way and/or the Chaldean Potentium, I guess.

Take the Kreia pill, my friend. You'll never turn back.