Philosophy of “Star Wars”: Part 1. The essence of ‘Natural Law’ in the ‘Code of the Sith’

7/29/2019 Philosophy of Star Wars: Part 1. The essence of Natural Law in the Code of the Sith.

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Philosophy of Star Wars: Part 1.

The essence of Natural Law in the Code of the Sith.

The Sith Code, as written by Sorzus Syn and taught by Darth Bane1:

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.

I. The Jedi Way.

The Order of the Sith is the one of the two most powerful groups of people that can

feel and understand the true or very close to the true- nature of the Force. By

following a constant training program both physically and mentally throughout their

whole lives, the Sith and the Jedi improve their potential skills, enhance their birth

given gift of high ranked percentage of the midichlorian in their blood composition in

order to gain an inner bond with the energy filed called the Force.

The Jedi beliefs reveal that the Force is deeply understood as an inner and non

materialistic bond among all living things, as Ben Kenobi said to Luke: (the Force is)

an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds

the galaxy together.2 We would at first have to refer to these two basic and very

important properties through which the Force is externalized: the status of

surrounding and of penetrating.

For all Jedi the Force is -in its true essence- an order that keeps united the whole

Galaxy, it is something like the resultant balance between all individual living things.

Therefore the reason and purpose the Force is around us in the meaning of

enclosing is that of creating a connecting line in an inner therefore secret- bond. The

enclosing around the Force field as a bond between one particular living thing, a

human for example, with all other living things even if the distance is very close or

1 http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Code_of_the_Sith#cite_note-BOS-02 Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)


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far, far away...- enables the Galaxy to be capable of not collapsing by its own weight

and also provides all living beings with the ability to be secured3 only as long as

they remain inside that filed of energy.

Regarding the second characteristic status of the Force, that can be extended in the

context of one using the Force energy field by ones free will. Of course, using the

Force is neither tricks used only to fool the ignorant minds nor an illusion for the

crowds pleasure, usage of the Force by someone can only be acquired throughout a

constant training (both in body and mind) for the rest of ones live so that he (or she)

can gain the knowledge of himself. By understanding yourself you can understand the

Galaxy and the Force. But the Jedi Order working inside that particular cognitive

context sets aside the other aspect of the Force; that kind of opposition leads most of

the times the Jedi as far asfighting it. The Jedi code and tradition of using the Light

Side of the Force in good a manner only to achieve noble acts and purposes4does not

contain the whole; and comprehensively the true essence of the Force, the existence of

another even contrary- Side is not a lie. The Dark Side exists for its very true and

secret purposes and reasons; therefore we can not be willingly blind not seeing them.

That is the point at which Sith, keepers of the other side of knowledge, come forth

to reveal a hidden aspect of the Force.

II. The Code of the Sith.

Darth Bane, a Sith legend and instructor of Korriban, bequeathed to the next

generations the knowledge he discovered by investigating the Dark paths of the Force.

The conclusions of his experiences remained for thousands of years as the core

teachings of the Sith legacy in their Academy. The importance through philosophical

analysis- of those short sentences is not an easy way to tell by a few words; so I find it

necessary for me to examine one by one the sentences structure, logical form and

3 The meaning of the given above secured (referred to a living being) is that of the

living being can remain alive even after its the death (of its material substance) as an

Energy Spirit. The afterlife concept is familiar in Star Wars cosmos; examples of

which are the spirit forms of Yoda, Kenobi, Anakin, Qui-Gon etc.4 The GoodandEvilis an ancient type of pair found in many different civilizations of

world history, it consists the eternal struggle of the value of Virtue against Malice and

of Life against Death. In that article the meaning of good and evil is taken not as

something static, stable, or same for all logical beings, but is considered as something

relativistic in time and place. Through that second point of view good and evil are

referred in a neutral way of meaning.


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semantic content in order to understand as possibly and deeply as I can the true

meaning of those mottos.

The first sentence of the Code begins with this: Peace is a lie, there is only

passion; the very first thing to think is that the Sith beliefs are based on the

opposition of the peace or in other words the Sith are against any Jedi value related

to the Force bond. But namely what is the meaning of the concept of peace is a

question that must be answered first so the continue is clearly.

As mentioned above, the Jedi Order in general states that the only real purpose of

the Force is to function in a way that is able to bring and sustain the balance among

the Galaxy and all living beings. That also means the Force is an energy field which

retains the order throughout the Galaxy and also restores back the peace when the

balance is trembling or falling. Therefore, Galactic Peace is a state created by the

Force to retain the universal bond among all living things.

For the Sith that is not the truth meaning of the reality. As a lie, piece stays against

the Jedi perception of binding and balancing the Galaxy together, for the Sith that is

not the only way and so forth that understanding perspective does not lead to the truth.

The passion, in the meaning of the inner natural instincts or natural impulses, is also

the very true and biological characteristics of every living creature in the way that all

of them are equally; more important natural passions are what allow these living

beings to survive and remain able to live. So for a Sith thinker comes forth the

question how can peace be the only truth; when struggle for survival and very often

death is another equally real and true aspect of the reality? And that is a serious and

important doubt.

How can ppeace be the one and only true aspect of the Force? That is not

acceptable real; I think that Darth Bane might have thought in that manner of way. If

peace is not something natural: then it does not exists by itself, further more peace is

not natural condition of the world but more of a contracted state between the members

of a society. The thing means that the members of the human societies, or the

Twi'leks, or Wookiees etc. and every other social living being agreed to live in an

specific order or particular way of social status so that all individual members

together can form a community. That society is able in a much better way to achieve

its creation purposes and that is to retain its survival.

So the order of the community; the social peace; is of course very important for its

good function to survival, but that is not at all the truth. Every system in every planet


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is consisted of many more different living things, such as irrational animals and plants

or logical beings. Those animals and plants may not all of them be logical but they do

follow a specific a circle of life, so they do belong and consists the energy field of the

Force. But the same living beings are sometimes considered to be the food of other

beings much stronger and bigger. So another question comes forth: is peace

something natural, or is it something non-natural, therefore something invented. If

peace would be established be nature, it would also not be possible for one living

being to be superior in a harsh and deadly way to any other. And more importantly, if

the inequality is a condition that peace includes, how realistic can it be for someone to

say that the Force combines us but not at the same time- separates us in another

way, in the way of natural chain of command. I think that the Sith understood those

inner thoughts in their own way so their conclusions expressed the fakeness of every

kind of peaceful situation.

Expanding the conclusions of Darth Bane, I would say that the true natural

substance, the passion, is the only thing that matters by anyone or anything that

proceeds as survivalist. The passion is the only weapon to sustain alive. From that

point of view the very next sentence states: Through passion, I gain strength in a

meaning of strength as something of a natural weapon against everything else.

Passion is the very first thing nature provides us to survive; these are emotions, or

feelings which make us stronger and fitter every moment in every situation we face.

In a better explanation, as a climax (or ladder) containing stairs, passion lies at the

bottom stair. The primary step for a being is to follow its own passion in order to be

able to evolve into something; by evolution the living being can gain control of its

physical power, which Darth Bane named as strength.

Physical strength is the only natural way and therefore the only true reality of the

nature. Every living creature willing to survive must evolve and develop its biological

weapons, also must take advantage of any others inferior beings; so it can set itself

high at the climax of the nature. However, strength is considered to be only raw

power arising from the bodys physical skills, therefore strength is another step in the

climbing up the natural ladder of survivor. That means by developing the skill of

strength can one be sure that survival from some hostile environmental situation can

not be certain, and easy to achieve. That is why Bane added in his thinking the

sentence through strength, I gain power.


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Power is something wider and much more complex, because it does contain not

only any physical skill but also includes the summary of intellectual potentialities

mental abilities and logical benefits that make strength much more efficient in action.

As the need of a strong material substrate is the logical sequent to survival, it is also

an accommodation of all mental abilities. That in a conclusion can be quoted as a

strong mind in a strong body. That dualism of mind and body, spirit and matter, is

what the Sith consider to be the best combination which can make any being a true

survival specie and further more a true survivalist leader.

Indeed the summary of all physical potentialities are easily recognized and named

as strength, but the potentialities of mental strength configured above is not an easy

thing to say. But in kind of abstract conference it can be assumed that mental abilities

are formed in the context of the Force.

Every powerful being is strong enough to overcome any natural difficulty, but also

acknowledged enough in the paths of using the midichlorians in order to manipulate

the Force. That is of course the well-known way of the Sith, the way of the learning

something to the maximum efficiency of its potentialities only for achieving the

desired purposes, and that of course is power. That particular kind of power is as I

can suppose- derived from the Force and more specific from the more secret and

mystical aspect of it, the Dark Side.

It is somehow true that by gaining knowledge of the Dark Side of the Force anyone

can transform from a weak living being into one of the most powerful sum of

capabilities that can be imagined. Of course that kind of transformations is not

unknown to anyone who studies the history of Star Wars; just bring to in mind the

stories of many powerful Sith Lords such as Darth Revan, Darth Malak, Plagueis,

Lord Sidious, Darth Vader and many others. Those powerful Sith only after mastering

the ways of the Dark Side were able in much more efficient manner to manipulate

their midichlorian count to use the Force in their will. Therefore, the only way to

become more powerful is to gain the proper knowledge of the only powerful state, the

only energy field that controls the Galaxy and that is nothing else but the Force.

The Sith in the above examples gained so much power that they were able to do

mind tricks, to submit whole worlds in theirs will, to form huge armies and even to

deceive death itself. So for all the Sith only through the manipulation of the Force is

one able to become exempted from its bond with any other being, the bond that

restrains the similarity and equality among all beings according to the order of the


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Galaxy. For every Sith the main and only true aim is becoming the top of the climax

order that is why Bane quoted: through power, I gain victory.

The meaning of victory is that of fulfilling the purpose as nature commands;

which is of course to climb up the natural climax and become the top of it. By

achieving that fulfillment a Sith moves onto the next level; which contains gaining a

position of power, acquiring a leading role and at the end becoming the Master of his

own and of his servants. From that moment a Sith is able to proceed at the next and

final step, as Bane denotes through victory, my chains are broken.

The victory in the battlefield or the victory against anything conventional is the

same thing for a Sith; victory provides everyone to sustain alive in a manner of not

only gain the simple state of surviving, but also being beneficial from the whole

situation. The true victor imposes the defeated enemies in his or her- own will, in

other words by following the kind of natural justice the victor is allowed to determine

the fate of the defeated. That means the only time natures true face is revealed is

when the principle Might is Right5 is applied in reality.

The true victor, the powerful Sith, is from that moment able to do anything he

willingly desires, he is now outside from the restricting field of the morality and

reality. The Force becomes the most powerful ally in the way of obtaining more and

more power to transform into the highest authority, the ruler of the Galaxy. So in

gaining that goal any mean necessary is allowed to be used, that is why violence states

very high in the Sith training procedures. The Sith Master of the secrets of the Dark

Side of the Force is now able to subordinate any other weak being; to destroy

anything standing in his way, to evolve into a Sith Lord.

In the rank of the Lord a Sith becomes very powerful in a way that gaining the

capability to expulse the bond with the rest of the living things and climbing at the top

of natural order climax, therefore the so wanted victory against any other being is

achieved. At the very end of breaking the chains the sign of the new order is obvious,

or as the Code states The Force shall free me. The salvation from the lie of every

peaceful state and condition through the path of gaining power is the only way a Sith

can feel unbounded, uncommitted, free. The importance of fear is another thing one

would have to examine first to make clearly conclusion for the reasons of Sith and

Jedi have their very specific way of acting with the Force. I think that for the Sith the

5 Guthrie, W. K. C. (1971) The Sophists, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p.

101.


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fear of pain and the fear of loss are the strongest type of passionate condition that one

can experience. Because of the complexity of the role and importance of fear in the

Sith hierarchy the above reference to that kind of passionate state is the only this

article includes, the necessary space on the discussion about fear it is better to be

developed as a topic in another article.

For every Sith through the supremacy of the Force, and particular the Dark Side of

it, is able to attain the much desired freedom of anything that set limits to the way in

front. That is why the bond between him and the Force becomes so strong that in

some cases leads to the exactly opposite situation, slavery, weakening and even death.

Here lies the irony, from the very begging to the end a Student of the Sith ways tries

to dismiss any lie of the so far known reality and enhance the natural instincts and

passion so he can accomplish physical strength and appropriate mental skills. As the

biological subtract evolves the achievement of gaining power becomes real close, then

a very personal bond with the Force is formed though which the ability to manipulate

the energy of Force field in the way of the passion is the next level of becoming Sith

Master. At that moment the Sith would meditate deeply and train very hard to master

the ways of the Dark Side so he is able to gain the passionate desired victory. Victory

in an inner way is the sign of realizing the some kind achieved freedom from the

natural bounds, and there lies the treachery of the whole situation.

Because all the Sith would use every piece of knowledge about the Force in order to

become more powerful of it and surpass it, the meaning of the last sentence can be

understood as the Force shall bring a kind of illusory freedom. Instead of becoming

free, the Sith become more and more blinded by their passionate power; which also

leads them o their inner corruption. Corruption is the main cause of the main

problematic situation among the Sith, the betrayals. The incident of treacherous

relations between Students and Masters is in many cases the result of choosing that

individual success is worth put above everything else, in that direction is the dogma of

any means necessary is adopted. Unstable relationships as mentioned above often

lead to one and the same result, the death of one by the other. In other words, the Sith

way as Darth Bane comprehended in his Code would be better to say that reveals a

vicious circle, in which the fate of the attended followers is determined in a constant

struggle full of fears and death.

How better can anyone summarize the true essence of the tragic circle of the Sith

way, but from the very words of a Sith: [Darth Plagueis the Wise] became so


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powerful, the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power...which, eventually of

course, he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew. Then his

apprentice killed him in his sleep. Plagueis never saw it coming. Ironic. He could save

others from death...but not himself6.

6 Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005).

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Philosophy of “Star Wars”: Part 1. The essence of ‘Natural Law’ in the ‘Code of the Sith’