It might have taken place “in a galaxy far, far away” but like all great epics Star Wars, too, resonates deep philosophical themes present in literature, mythology, religion and history. It is then perhaps not so strange that the latest instalment of the franchise has become the third highest grossing movie of all time. After all, in a world where the oft repeated philosophical question, “what does it mean to be good”, is becoming increasingly difficult to answer, Star Wars provides us - the blighted race of cinema-goers - some relief by offering interesting arguments.

Star Wars is essentially a story about a son and his father, with operatic and Shakespearian undertones: for example, similar to Hamlet, the tragic hero of Star Wars also communicates with his dead father’s ghost. And there is, of course, no doubt that the mythos of Star Wars has been influenced by characteristics central to other mythologies, philosophies, and traditions. This is why the Skywalker “Lightsaber” becomes King Arthur’s Excalibur or Shamshir-e-Zomorrdnegar - the “emerald-studded sword” - of Persian legend Amir Arsalan. The journey of the Skywalkers is also representative of the journey of the classical ‘heroic figure’ found in literature - like Homer’s Odysseus or Bible’s Moses - an archetypal journey where a reluctant adult is called to service by something that is bigger than him. Star Wars calls this ‘something’: The Force.

This is perhaps the most exciting element of the Star Wars universe; the deployment and use of the concept of “The Force”, which is described to be “an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together” (Episode IV).

The Force is qualitatively neither good nor bad but has “sides” or aspects to it, from which “force-sensitive” individuals can draw upon.

Those who use the “Dark Side of the Force”, called The Sith Order, utilise base emotions such as fear, anger, hatred, and violence. While those who use “Light Side of the Force”, called the Jedi, espouse values such as knowledge, love and non-aggression. Should this Force be George Lucas’ metaphor for a deity then The Force can be personal (to an individual who is “force-sensitive”), interpersonal (shared between force sensitive individuals and others; for example, while using the Force to implant suggestions with which the subject is compelled to comply), or impersonal (to non force-sensitive individuals). Thus The Force can be called Monist. In philosophy Monism is the view that attributes oneness or singleness to a concept (e.g. existence). For Monism all existing things go back to a source that is distinct from them; as is the case in Neoplatonism where everything is derived from The One.

Baruch Spinoza, a dutch monistic philosopher who laid down the groundwork for the 18th-century Enlightenment, in part one of his magnum opus ‘Ethics’, sees the world as divisible, but argues that “no attribute of a substance can be truly conceived from which it follows that the substance can be divided.” According to him Nature is all pervasive, “dynamic, in action, growing and changing, not a passive or static thing.” In Star Wars, too, The Force is dynamic, active, and almost sentient: for this Force can “call out to you” (Episode VII), “guide you” (Episode I), and “be with you” (every Episode). Spinoza’s concept of a personal relationship with Nature and God comes from a similar position, that one is a part of an infinite interdependent “organism”; everything is a derivative of The One, interconnected with all of existence. This form of Monism is also found at the heart of Sufism as many followers of Sufism advocated monism. One influential Islamic monists was the Sufi philosopher Ibn Arabi (1165-40), who developed the concept of “Unity of Being” (wahdat al-wujūd). Another perhaps more notable Sufi monist was the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi (1207–73). In his didactic poem Masnavi, Rumi says this about Monism:
“In the shop of Unity (wahdat); anything that you see there except the One is an idol.”

In fact, Force-users in Star Wars, especially the Jedi Order, seem to espouse the Sufi values of monism more than that of Western monistic traditions, since the ultimate goal of Sufism is mystical union with God, and the characters of Star Wars, both good and evil, seem to attempt to assimilate themselves into The Force, while only the Jedi are able to become one with it; as in the case of Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi. And also because just like the Jedi and Sith orders in Star Wars train apprentices in the use of The Force , The Sufi movement, too, consists of fraternal orders in which leaders train and assist disciples in the mastery of Sufism’s philosophical principles and ritual practices.

While The Force explores ontological positions such as Nature, Reality and Being, the Jedi and Sith Orders provide studies on political and moral philosophy; the nature of Good and Bad . The Jedi Order seem to embody Plato’s concept of Philosopher Kings, who states: “Until philosophers are kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy, and political greatness and wisdom meet in one… cities will never have rest from their evils.” Mimicking Plato, the Jedi Order believes in a strict educational regime for a “Padawan” or youngling. A regime which results in making those able to lead realise knowledge as the only virtue. This is exemplified by Yoda’s training of Luke Skywalker (Episode V) and best epitomised by Yoda himself, consider this from Episode V: “In a dark place we find ourselves, and a little more knowledge lights our way.”

On the other hand, The Sith Order, the uniforms of which are directly modelled on the uniform of Nazi officers , want the Jedi to step down so that they can act out their social darwinian struggles unabashed. The Sith embody the corrupted form of Nietzsche’s “Will to Power”; they declare it natural order to seek power over others. The Sith Code, a closed philosophy, views anything contrary to be a lie and states “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.” In Star Wars, this quest for total domination, control, power , and for Empire ultimately lead to the fall of the Sith Order. The Sith philosophy is essentially self-defeating because with great power does not come great responsibility, but comes corruption. And with absolute power absolute corruption. This is best signified by the Sith “Rule of Two”: a philosophy mandating that only two Sith can exist at any given time: a Dark Lord of the Sith to embody power, and an apprentice to crave it. Since their inherent greed and in-fighting would, otherwise, lead to their destruction. As the pursuit of Power mostly does.

Thus, the Star Wars universe not only reinvigorates old mythological and philosophical questions but serves to offer some qualities of goodness: plurality, stoicism, peacefulness (as opposed to anger or euphoria), pacifism and wisdom. And offers a place from which to kickstart or restart a philosophical investigation.