Is the Dark Side Stronger?

 

The dark side provides powers similar to those of the Jedi such as psychic communication, hypnosis and extrasensory perception but draws energy from emotions and passion This energy is enhanced by emotion, in this world we call it adrenaline. These emotions that include hatred, rage are usually bad, but fear and anger are a part of every day life. These emotions can lead to very powerful skills, such as lightning from the fingertips, and Vader's famous Force Choke. While the original films may picture the dark side as evil, a deeper analysis brought to us by the prequel trilogy and the Expanded Universe give us a much better understanding of what it truly is. For one, the dark side stems from all strong emotions, not just the negative ones.

Through the use of negative emotions, such as anger, aggression, and greed, the powers of the Force come to the individual more easily. The downside, when they lust for power, it consumes, them and they have tendencies to think more highly of themselves (arrogance). When individuals go down this path, it is assumed that they always become corrupted individuals, evil and wicked, ever consumed with self-centerdness and the never ending desire for more power (addiction similar to drug users).

The Jedi do a good job recognizing how tempting the path to the dark side is, and think it to be evil. It is for this reason that their teaching includes restraint, limiting their abilities in the force. Yoda mentioned that a Jedi uses his/her skills for “knowledge and defense, never for attack.” While that seems noble, it is often necessary to attack, or at least counter an attack, in which case the force comes in very handy.

The Sith, on the other hand (users of the Dark Side of the Force) utilize the Force's full potential. They feel that you must examine both sides of something, much the same as I. This is seen clearly in Revenge of the Sith when Aniken realizes Palpatine is a Sith Lord, or when Vader in The Empire Strikes Back informs Luke that only hatred can destroy him. I think he was right as we saw in Return of the Jedi. Luke's fear of his sister turning to the Dark Side led to fear, hatred, and aggression, and Vader was defeated.

 

Lucas uses 'the dark side', and "paths to the dark side", as disposition to propose that the distinction between good and evil is clearly not a distinction between us vs. them. So that brings to question, is the Dark Side Stronger? My analysis, yes it is. Yoda was either a liar or was fooled. I am unsure, what do you think?

Light Side or Dark Side. Which are you?

My interpretation of the force is one that many of you, I think will agree with. In the task of determining whether, if living in the Star Wars Universe, I would become a Sith or Jedi, I have pondered for years. I have heard arguments for both sides, on which one is "correct" and as best I can tell, neither are perfect. I will start with the Jedi.

Jedi claim to only use the light side of the force. They are allowed to have emotions, they are encouraged to serve people out of love, but they are not allowed to get attached to people. They usually are not allowed to marry or have children. In addition, they are trained to not let their emotions control them. They do not use their aggression to defeat an opponent, rather strictly what is practical. Being that Jedi are fearless and have a diminished capacity for empathy or remorse, they show signs of what we call in this universe a psychopath. Further flaws with the jedi include the fact that fascist governments, have, throughout history proven that the denial of unpopular progress on grounds that it challenges existing beliefs of what's right or what is wrong is one of mankind's worst customs: Galileo was once called a heretic for claiming the Sun was the center of the universe, when the Roman Catholic Church was set on the center being the Earth. Whether that was their true belief or their agenda we may never know.

Much the same, the Jedi oppose any thing of the Dark Side, since they believe nothing good can ever comes from it. Not mentioned much is the fact that before the Galactic Republic, that we have come to know and love, the galaxy was mostly ruled by the Rakata race's Empire

This empire, much like one from our galaxy, was built on cutting-edge technology, such as the first hyperdrives, and we have the dark side to thank for that.

After the fall of the Rakata empire (25,000 years prior to the films) the technology was fair game. The Corellians were among the first to besiege the Dark Side components of “Rakata warp drives” and sell the technology wholesale. The technology boom was a breakthrough for space travel, so no one seemed to be too bothered.

The lightsaber is a device that could only be crafted by those in tune with the light side of the Force, right? Right. The Rakata called their version Forcesabers. They used the Force to channel dark energy into a solidified blade. The Jedi, like they did elsewhere, saw the potential made possible only through the Dark Side and modified it for their own purpose.

Certainly the technology was used by the Rakata for capture and supremacy, but if every advancement that aided warfare was seen as inherently evil, the world would be a very different place. Maybe the Jedi actually should believe that nothing good comes from the Dark Side “Anymore.” Or maybe they are hypocrites?

I personally see much one can benefit from examining both sides of the force, and collectively utilizing both as they complement each other. I feel that deep down Jedi do too, even if they won't admit it.

Here is some food for thought. Are the Sith really a truly evil organization? Or is it possible that they have been grossly misrepresented by people like Palpatine, the evil side of Darth Vader, and Darth Maul?

I personally believe the Sith to be somewhat morally-neutral. They use passion and emotion as conduits of the Force, as opposed to the Jedi, who only use Inner Peace. The Jedi admit that there are areas of the Force that cannot truly be understood or entirely controlled [by them], areas that they do not pursue, due to fear of the unknown. Therefore, they exercise restraint, dubbing this unmapped territory, the "Dark Side" of the Force, and condemning any and all practitioners of its arts. Is it possible that the Jedi do not have a dominance of the understanding of the dark side, and because someone else understands it better automatically reprobate those that use it? How many times in this universe have we seen those in authority demonize something they have little understanding of?

The Jedi despised Dark Side users so much that they hunted them to near extinction, in a manner quite similar to the Crusades. Do we see similarities here? The Jedi hold themselves on a pedestal above the Sith, declaring themselves "Good" and their enemies "Evil." But I now present to an opportunity to critically think. Are the Jedi truly good? And are the Sith, truely, evil? Let's look at the facts.

1. The Jedi remove themselves off from all physical attachment, considering emotion and attachment dangerous and "dark." But last I checked, wasn't love suppose to be a good thing? Is t not the same for joy? Aren't good people good because they get joy from helping others? If not, what is their motivation? Take the love and attachment of a parent and child, for instance. What could be more good and pure than a love such as this? This leads to emotions that will cause anyone to do whatever it takes to keep that child safe, "emotionlly driven" not the Jedi way. Yet the Jedi's principles condemn such a love, seeing it as a lure for the forces that they don't understand, hence the Dark Side. So I ask you, is the Dark Side (emotions) stronger?

2. The Jedi are hypocrites to their own doctrine. They condemn being prideful, yet declare themselves the only good, holy force in the galaxy, and condemn their opponents as evil. Is such a declaration not prideful? Do we not see that in this Universe, (Fundamental Christianity and Islam). How has that worked out for us?

3. Even Yoda himself stated in the novel-version of Revenge of the Sith, the Jedi's downfall came as a result of their refusal to bend, staying true to their old ways and traditions, while the Sith embraced change and adapted to a ever changing universe, and adapting to be as versatile as possible. In this Universe it is called Social Darwinism. So it looks like the Sith are the smart ones, and the Jedi are the stubborn individuals that refuse to change.

1. The Sith embrace all emotions as well as physical and emotional affection They see passion as something that is powerful and wonderful. While they do utilize Hatred, Anger, and Fear as tools to help their mastery of the Force, they can also utilize positive emotions; such as Love, Joy, and Attachment, to grow powerful and master these same abilities.

2. Many look down on the Sith, focusing only on individuals such as Palpatine or Vader and generalize allowing them to represent the entire sith subculture. Yes, many who utilize the Dark Side of the force open the door of opportunity into the areas that could be potenrionally bad, and become corrupted. The Dark Side is dangerous! But it seems that these individuals have cast a dark light over the entire Sith organization. Not all Sith are necessarily evil.

3. How many times have we used our emotions to make a decision that turned out to be a good one? If we only use practicality and what makes sense all the time, we allow no grey area in our lives, and we show signs of psychopathy. Even Luke used the dark side to defeat Vader. Without it, he probably would have been the a Death Star when it blew up. Did he turn evil?

I personally adhere to a philosophy that is neither Sith or Jedi.  I do believe that we should do, as much as we can, based on what is practical.  Too often emotions cloud judgement and poor decisions are made, especially when emotions run high.  I can not, however set aside all emotions to include love and attachment, such as the Jedi do.  It is with that being said that while the Jedi seem noble in the films, it is important to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.  A life in which you are not allowed to love is not a life worth living.  With that being said, the life of Jedi is one of enslavement, both physically and emotionally.  The Sith get their power from emotions.  While we in this galaxy might call it adrenaline, temporary explosion of extra powers, it seems that in the Star Wars galaxy that it is not temporary.  Sith use emotion to gain power and that power seems to stick with them and never die.  Empire Palpatine told Darth Vader, only after he went to the Jedi Temple and killed all the younglings would he be powerful enough to accomplish this mission.

While it seems that the Sith have done many things that you and I would not approve of, I am willing to bet that the entire plethora of Jedi are not innocent.  With any group, even noble groups, you will find evil people.  The entire Sith philosophy should not be judged by a group of them from one point in time.  It is for this reason that I feel that if I had to choose between Jedi and Sith, I would choose neither.  I would want to use both sides of the force equally for the betterment of society.  If I absolutely had to choose, however, I would become a Sith.  I can not live in a world in which I am not allowed to love.

Is this a bad decision?  Why?  What would you choose to become?