"Deneba Campus: Force Philosophy"

1—Introduction

Welcome students to my classroom. This course shall endeavour to teach you the different views of the Force, so that you have a better understanding of the Force's nature. The first thing you need to realise as a member of the Dark Brotherhood is that being a Dark Jedi doesn't mean that you are pure evil and hate everything. It means you use your emotion to drive your actions and increase your power. Not all views of the Force promote this idea of emotion driven power. Some say the Force controls us, others say we control the Force. In this course, you shall learn different aspects of the Force, including philosophical views and enhancing one's connection to the Force. Ultimately, it should teach you all about the greatest weapon we wield.

What is the Force? While there are debates as to the nature of the Force, the fact that the Force exists is not disputed. A broad definition is that the Force is an energy field that flows through all living things, which is why it is important for a Jedi to learn about it.

2 - Using the Force

2A - Force Sensitivity/Potential

There is a difference between Force sensitivity and Force potential. Understanding this difference helps in understanding the Force and how people react and interact with it.

Force-sensitivity is a trait established at birth and a high sensitivity is an uncommon trait. It is revealed to be the product of midichlorians, microscopic beings that exist symbiotically with other life forms, and allow the Force to flow through their hosts. The term Force-sensitivity is used to denote a high-level of Force-potential; high enough that Force powers may manifest spontaneously, and strong enough that the individual can be trained to interact with the Force.

This usage is technically incorrect, because all living creatures are linked to the Force and are thus Force sensitive. Through rare instances, we can see that even beings without high sensitivity can be trained to perform feats through this connection, generally considered reserved to Jedi or Sith. The B'omarr monks of Tatooine have performed feats of predicting the future that rival the wisest of Jedi Masters or Sith Lords, though the monks are not considered Force-sensitive, nor do they even have a body. Jorj Car'das, an Old Republic smuggling chieftain, whose lack of Force-sensitivity was confirmed by Yoda himself, could teleport objects using the Force after being instructed by the mysterious alien Aing-Tii monks of the Kathol Rift.

Force potential is the natural affinity exhibited by ALL living creatures, Force-sensitive or not, Obi Wan stated "created by all living things". In effect it's the power a Force-sensitive draws on in others when using Force Powers. As while a person may not be

Force-sensitive they still have a degree of Force-potential that a Force-sensitive can harness.

2B - Midichlorians

Midi-chlorians (also spelled "midi-clorians" or "midichlorians") are mysterious organisms. They are microscopic life forms that reside within the cells of almost all-living things and communicate with the Force. Midi-chlorians comprise a collective consciousness and intelligence, forming links between every living thing and the Force. They form symbiotic relationships with all other living things, meaning they coexist with other organisms. Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jin stated that without the midi-chlorians, life itself could not exist. The Jedi have learned how to listen to and co-ordinate the midi-chlorians. If they quiet their minds, they can hear the midi-chlorians speaking to them, telling them the will of the Force. In order to be a Jedi or a Sith, one must have a high concentration of midi-chlorians in one's cells because your midichlorian count is what defines your Force-potential, and that a high concentration is what makes you Force-sensitive.

3 - Views of the Force

Now that we have covered where the Force comes from and how it is introduced into our lives, we will look at several philosophical views of the Force that have arisen over time. To some, these views are almost religious in nature, and the debates surrounding them can be just as equally heated as any religious debate. Ultimately, it is a different philosophical view between the Jedi and the Sith that has resulted in a long history of conflict, ranging from simple debates to full fledged war.

There are four major interpretations of the Force and several smaller ones. We will cover the major views first.

3A - Major Views

The Potentium Philosophy

The Potentium view of the Force, considered a heresy by Jedi from the Old Republic, holds that the Force, and the galaxy, was inherently good, and that there was no evil side to the Force. This view was more widely accepted under the New Republic, largely due to the influence of Vergere, a surviving Jedi from the days of the Old Republic.

This philosophy commands that one must study the entire Force, including the Dark side, in order to truly understand it. But, the philosophy proclaims that there is only one Force. The Light side/Dark side debate stems from a difference in opinion: Sith see the Force as a means to an end; the Jedi see the Force as an end in itself. This is echoed by what Vergere teaches. She tells that there is neither Light side nor Dark side, there is only The Unifying Force, and that the "Dark side" is actually a reflection of the true feelings of the wielder.

Many other Jedi, including Kyle Katarn, also seem to embrace the Potentium view of the Force, and they preach something similar to Vergere. They tell that no particular Force ability is inherently good or evil; it is how the Force is used that counts. They are sometimes called "Gray Jedi", further demonstrating this by employing Force Lightning, Drain, Choke and other powers in combat; abilities universally considered being on the Dark side of the spectrum. Some believe that the phenomenon of constant master/apprentice warfare by the Sith indicates that the dark side may in fact be weaker than the light side, and this idea was seized upon by proponents of the Potentium theory of the Force.

In contrast to the Potentium view, some see the Force as black and white. This view is the most familiar to the common person in the galaxy, as it has led to two competing orders: the Light side (Jedi) and the Dark side (the Sith and various offshoots).

Sith philosophy

Peace is a lie; there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power. Through victory, my chains are broken.
The Force shall free me.

The dark side of the Force is innately tied to the distinctly negative ethical model of the Sith. It is largely based on emotions and passion rather than peace and serenity, which are focused on by the Light side of the Force. The Dark side of the Force comes from the hate, anger, fear, aggression, vengeance, and malice in all-living things. The Jedi believe that emotions such as fear, uncertainty, doubt, anger, suffering, and attachment lead to the Dark side. The Sith, on the other hand, believe that such emotions can be used to fuel one's own will to power, ego, and selfishness. The destructive havoc often caused by the actions of a Dark side practitioner is viewed as serving a greater purpose (and thus is excusable) under this philosophy.

The negative emotions increase the strength and abilities of a Sith. As a result, the Dark side of the Force is extremely addictive: every time one calls on its power, one becomes more and more attached to it. The Dark side can also strongly affect the user physically, as the intense emotion and rage required to fuel it usually corrupts the user's body, making them seem ill or even aged.

The Sith also believe that instead of living alongside the Force, one must master it and use it as a tool. Some Sith considered the Force to be finite, and best restricted to the use of a single Sith Lord. There are other Dark side sects beyond the Sith that have their own versions of this philosophy. In the Brotherhood, the Krath and the Obelisk are two different sects. Though based on the same philosophy of the Sith (that is, using emotion to achieve a greater connection to the Force), these other sects focus on different goals from the Sith.

Some Sith do what they do for the greater good. While many people may think the Sith are evil, not all Sith see their actions as negative or evil: some see it as self-sacrifice of their own morals for the greater good. After the Mandalorian Wars, Revan made war on the Republic to unite the galaxy so that it could withstand the threat of the old Sith Empire that still existed beyond its borders.

A new Code has been made recently regarding the Sith, but it is somewhat broken and unfinished; this was pieced together from the Betrayal:

He will remake himself,
He will ruin those who deny justice.
He will choose the fate of the weak.
He will choose how he will be loved.
He will win and break his chains.
He will shed his skin and choose a new skin.
He will strength himself through sacrifice.
He will crawl through his cloak.
He will know brotherhood.
He will make a pet.
He will strength himself through pain.
His life will be balanced between peace and conflict.

Jedi philosophy (Jedi Orthodoxy)

There is no emotion; there is peace.
There is no ignorance; there is knowledge.
There is no passion; there is serenity.
There is no chaos; there is harmony
There is no death; there is the Force.

A follower of the Light side tries to live in harmony with those around him. Mutual trust, respect, and the ability to form alliances give the Jedi a perceived advantage over the Sith. In contrast, a follower of the Dark side is only interested in his or herself, from a Jedi's point of view. To strike down a living creature with the Force out of anger, fear or another emotion is of the Dark side. To refrain and clear one's self of these emotions is of the Light side. Use of the Dark side of the Force is forbidden within the Jedi Order, and is strictly considered the domain of the Sith.

Traditional Jedi are keen to keep the Force "in balance". They attempt to achieve this by destroying the Sith and denying the Dark side, as they view Dark side as "corruption". This involves the purging of negative emotions such as aggression, anger, and hatred, since they can easily bring on acceptance of the Dark side. In contrast, positive emotions such as compassion and courage nurture the Light side of the Force. The Jedi Code addresses such feelings and provides insight into the ethical use of the Force.

Passion is considered dangerous as it may lead to strong emotions that could unbalance the Jedi and lead them to the Dark side. Love is, curiously enough, seen as something both Jedi and Sith avoid. The Jedi believe love for another being, romance or a possessive love by nature should be avoided. Possession of all types is frowned upon, save for the individuality of a Jedi's lightsaber. The Sith view love as a danger best left untouched. While the passion that comes with love could lead to hatred and anger, it could also lead to pity, self-sacrifice and compassion, emotions the Sith do not see as beneficial, but others pursue it as a source of strength.

One might speculate that this indicates that love is the true binding factor between the Light and the Dark. Neither the Jedi nor the Sith accept the other because they are either side of an extreme.

Most Old Republic era Jedi appeared to be proponents for The Unified Force, where they focus on the past, present, and future as a whole; however, visions of the future are of particular significance to many Jedi. Some believe a philosophy of "live for the moment" and heavy reliance on their instincts was more useful. The latter view might have allowed the Jedi Order to put off the conflict that gave rise to the Galactic Empire, as its members lost themselves in looking forward rather than analysing the unfolding events before them.

The organisational goal of the Jedi Order is to maintain peace and justice in the galaxy.

The Jedi had a symbiotic relationship with the environment.

"The Force surrounds us...and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter." -Yoda

To the Jedi, the Force was thought to be the pure energy of awareness and consciousness itself. It linked all sentient and non-sentient things, all space, and all time. Thus, if you were aware of your contact with the Force, you were potentially aware of all things, places, persons and even all times: past, present and future.

The Force touched everything. The Jedi believed that if they were in touch with the Force, they were in touch with the world around them - it was through the Force that a Jedi could move objects without physically touching them. The Force was thought to reside in a person's mind and feelings, and the Jedi taught that knowing the Force would allow them to know the feelings hidden inside someone else. A Jedi could also use the Force to peer into the myriad possibilities of the future, for the Force permeated through the very fabric of time itself.

Life, the universe, and everything else existed within the Force

Belief in the Force decreased after the fall of The Old Republic and the destruction of the Jedi, to the point that most of the galaxy's inhabitants viewed Force users as sorcerers and magicians. Many did not even believe that the Force existed. In A New Hope, both Han Solo and Admiral Motti express these views.

• Solo expresses disbelief: "There's no mystical energy field that controls my destiny."
• Motti expresses dismissal: "Don't try to frighten us with your sorceress ways, Lord Vader. Your sad devotion to that ancient religion has not helped you conjure up the stolen data tapes or given you clairvoyance enough to find the Rebel's hidden fort…"

3B - Minor Views

The views are often restricted to small groups of users and their philosophies have not had as large an impact on the universe as the major views. Nevertheless, understanding the views, even if you do not embrace the view, is important.

The Living Force

The Living Force was thought to be present in most living beings. The Jedi had the ability to sense the Living Force inside of life forms. Sick or dying organisms had little Living Force, while healthy ones possessed a level corresponding to their midichlorian count. The connection to the Living Force apparently also allowed Jedi Masters to retain their identity when they became one with the Force. Yoda refers to this as achieving immortality.

The Jedi are able to become one with the Force because they seek to let go of all attachments, to become part of the Force itself, to follow its will. Therefore, when a Jedi who is truly in tune with the Force dies, nothing changes. They retain their identity in death the same as before, as they've already let go of everything in life, death is no different, they just become one with the Force, letting go of their last attachment, their body.

The Sith are the opposite they believe in possessions, they cling to life, they cling to their desire to be immortal, they use the Force, they don't let its will use them. That's why Sith can't ever become one with the Force, as they can't let go of themselves. So when a Sith survives as a ghost it's because they're doing the complete opposite, refusing to join with the Force, anchoring their incorporeal form to the physical world through sheer force of will. The Jedi become one with the Force by letting go of all worldly possessions, the Sith cling to life so hard they refuse to join with the afterlife at all.

The Aing-Tii is an order of alien monks that live near the Kathol Rift. Their belief held that all events were not necessarily predetermined, but rather guided. Unlike the Jedi or Sith, the Aing-Tii believed that the Force had neither a light nor a dark side, but had many different levels. On the whole, they believed slavery to be one of the greatest evils in the Galaxy. This philosophy is a development of the Potentium theory and goes further into the meanings of the force as a whole. Flow-walking was one of the most famous abilities the Aing-Tii possessed. Jacen Solo learned how to do this. It is the ability to communicate across time.

The Fallanassi Philosophy.

The Fallanassi was a religious order devoted to the White Current, which the Jedi knew as the Force, though some of its functions were different than the universal energy field Jedi make use of. The Fallanassi's most powerful ability was to camouflage or create illusions so as to hide or increase the size of their fleet.

The Greater and Lesser Force

The Force existed in the universe by assuming two aspects: The Greater "Cosmic" Force, and the Lesser "Living" Force; The Greater and the Lesser Force were inherently linked, and were capable of interacting with and affecting one another. Their interaction left a trace in the form of mysterious living particles in the blood known as midichlorians. These midichlorian traces also served to enhance further communication between the Greater and Lesser Force.

In Old Republic times, many people believed that midichlorians were not distinct entities, but rays of the Greater Force itself. Many Jedi held this view.

It was thought that there were an infinite number of Living Forces, each with a unique identity, and will. Each individual Living Force could interface with or influence any other individual Living Force, whether sentient or not, through a causeway established in the Cosmic Force. This meant that a Jedi could understand and influence the people and objects around him or her in ways that often appeared to be mystical.

The Insidious Force

Some Sith believed the Force to be akin to some sort of insidious god. They pointed to the numerous wars fought by countless Force-Users, as proof that the Force cared nothing for the lives it consumed, so long as balance was achieved. This philosophy emphasises the belief that neither the light nor dark side is truly superior to the other, and that if people were to be truly free, the Force must be eliminated from the galaxy. This was generally a very unpopular theory with both the Sith and the Jedi, and its practice disappeared entirely with the believers' deaths.

4 - Force Ability and Enhancement

There actually is no such thing as a Force Power! As a person is trained to utilize the Force, he or she learns to do specific things with the Force. Though some Force users seem to have inherent dispositions towards certain abilities (such as healing or combat), all Force users can master abilities beyond the scope of a normal person. They may also use naturally occurring or artificially produced items to enhance their Force abilities.

4A - Force Abilities

As one learns how to wield the Force, certain techniques (generally called powers) become available. Some powers are easily recognisable: Force lightning, choke, and the common moving of items are a few but these do not actually exist in the Universe they are all forms of Telekinesis. Others are not so well known. The Brotherhood maintains a list of powers that all members, once they have obtained a certain level, have been trained to use. You will never be taught how to use Force Grip: you are taught how to manipulate the Force.

These powers offer even journeymen a wide array of abilities that are useful in daily functions. The Force plays a major part in the Jedi use of a lightsaber in that their awareness keeps them from accidentally injuring themselves or others while using the weapon in combat. Similarly, the Force allows a Jedi to use his/her lightsaber to deflect incoming blaster bolts. The Force also comes into play during the construction of a lightsaber, both in assembling its intricate innards, and the initial charging of the power cell. For further information, please review the Dark Side Codex.

4B - Non-living Force enhancement

Training in the ways of the Force enhances a person's natural abilities. In order to enhance one's connection to the Force, and thus giving one greater ability, certain inanimate objects (generally called artefacts) can help. Some, such as the fabled Kaiburr crystal, increase a person's direct connection to the Force. Others, such as special lightsaber crystals, help not only increase the power of the blade, but also a wielders connection to the blade.

You must also be aware of which crystals are force sensitive and can be used in a lightsaber. The list below names many of the major crystals, each with their own special effect on the blade of the lightsaber. Upari, Solari, Sigil, Sapith, Rubat, Opila, Nextor, Luxum, Krayt Dragon Pearl, Jenruax, Firkrann, Eralam, Damind, Bondar, Adegan.

Luminara Unduli once said this about these crystals:

The crystal is the heart of the blade.
The heart is the crystal of the Jedi.
The Jedi is the crystal of the Force.
The Force is the blade of the heart.
All are intertwined
The crystal, The blade, The Jedi.
You are one.

Temples, weapons, books, and even personal objects of famous masters can all help enhance one's connections to the Force.

5 - Conclusion

To conclude, we have discussed the views of the Force, reviewed the basic powers the Force can offer, and we have touched on how to enhance one's connection to the Force. This course was designed to provide information about how to view the Force. How you choose to wield it remains up to you. If you have any questions feel free to ask your house or clan leaders, the Eclectic Pedagogue, or the Headmaster.

Information for this course was researched using Wookieepedia.

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