The Ultimate Star Wars and Philosophy: You Must Unlearn What You Have Learned (The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series)

Does it take faith to be a Jedi? Are droids capable of thought? Should Jar Jar Binks be held responsible for the rise of the Empire? Presenting entirely new essays, no aspect of the myth and magic of George Lucas’s creation is left philosophically unexamined in The Ultimate Star Wars and Philosophy . The editors of the original Star Wars and Philosophy strike back in this Ultimate volume that encompasses the complete Star Wars universe Presents the most far-reaching examination of the philosophy behind Star Wars – includes coverage of the entire film catalogue to date as well as the Expanded Universe of novels, comics, television series, games and toys Provides serious explorations into the deeper meaning of George Lucas’s philosophically rich creation Topics explored include the moral code of bounty-hunter favourite Boba Fett, Stoicism and the Jedi Order, the nature of the Dark Side, Anakin and Achilles in a nihilism face-off, feminism and being chained to a giant slug, cloning, de-extinction, fatherhood, Wookiees, loyalty, betrayal, guardians, republics, tyrants, terrorism, civic duty, friendship, family, and more! THE ULTIMATE STAR WARS AND PHILOSOPHY Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Episode I THE PHILOSOPHICAL MENACE 1 The Platonic Paradox of Darth Plagueis: How Could a Sith Lord Be Wise? Respect for the Difference between Knowledge and Wisdom “Unlimited Power!” Darth Plagueis the Wise The Wisdom of Seeking a Life of Great Significance The Force beyond Light and Dark Notes 2 “You Are Asking Me to Be Rational”: Stoic Philosophy and the Jedi Order Master of the Stoic Arts Unlimited Power? “Fear Is the Path to the Dark Side” “From My Point of View, the Jedi Are Evil!” “You Underestimate My Power!” Notes 3 The Jedi Knights of Faith: Anakin, Luke, and Søren (Kierkegaard) “I Cant Kill My Own Father” “Mostly Because of My Father, I Guess” “Something Is Out of Place!” “I Find Your Lack of Faith Disturbing” “I Take Orders from Just One Person: Me!” “Its a Trap!” “Thats Impossible!” Bringing Balance to the Force Notes 4 Anakin and Achilles: Scars of Nihilism “[Not So] Hard to See, the Dark Side Is” “The Dark Side Is a Pathway to Many Abilities Some Consider to Be Unnatural” Nihilism– Its a Trap! “Help Me Take This Mask Off” Notes 5 Dark Times: The End of the Republic and the Beginning of Chinese Philosophy Heavens Mandate Is Not Constant KKruhks Story Dass Jennirs Story Kai Hudorras Story Notes Episode II ATTACK OF THE MORALS 6 Chasing Kevin Smith: Was It Immoral for the Rebel Alliance to Destroy Death Star II? Scum and Villainy: The Anatomy of a Terrorist Act Innocent Voices Crying Out in Terror: From Madrid to the Death Star Doubling Their Efforts: Were the Death Star Workers Innocent? “Theyre Gonna Bust Up Vaders Hood”... for a Proportionate Reason? The Good Guys Lens Notes 7 The Ballad of Boba Fett: Mercenary Agency and Amoralism in War Darker Than the Dark Side Daddy Issues, Decapitation, and the Family Business Moral Manager or Moral Mangler? Mercenary Motivation and Ethical Action Gray Areas: Fett and Amoralism Notes 8 How Guilty Is Jar Jar Binks? “Mesa Cause One, Two-y Little Bitty Axadentes” Oopsies Daisies, Meesa Killed Billions. Whoopsie! Kant Decide (In)Sidious Motives Notes 9 “Know the Dark Side”: A Theodicy of the Force “Now I Shall Show You the True Nature of the Force” “I Will Be the Most Powerful Jedi Ever!” “You Were My Brother, Anakin! I Loved You!” “If the Force Is Life, How Can There Be Life without the Force?” Notes Episode III REVENGE OF THE ALLIANCE 10 “Like My Father before Me”: Loss and Redemption of Fatherhood in Star Wars Early Attachment Failed Detachment Choosing a Father Vaders Deformed Fatherhood Savior by Sacrifice A Lesson on Love Notes 11 The Friends of a Jedi: Friendship, Family, and Civic Duty in a Galaxy at War Pals over Politics: Motivations of a Hero Luke Skywalker and Other Mythic Heroes Leaving Han Solo in the Freezer Your Friends or Your Galaxy? Notes 12 Light Side, Dark Side, and Switching Sides: Loyalty and Betrayal in Star Wars Betrayed by a Droid The Loyalty of the Sith Loyal Soldiers of the Empire The Solo House Divided against Itself Betrayal at Bespin; or, Why Lando Was Right “So Be It ... Jedi!” Notes 13 Guardians and Tyrants in the Republics of Star Wars and Plato Dysfunctional Democracy Tyranus Rex Guardians of Their Galaxy Jedi and Present-Day Guardians Lightsaber-Wielding Philosophers Notes Episode IV A NEW HERMENEUTIC 14 Pregnant Padmé and Slave Leia: Star Wars Female Role Models “I Am Not a Committee!” “The Force Is Strong with This One” “Arent You a Little Short for a Stormtrooper?” “You Have Your Moments– Not Many of Them– but You Do Have Them” Notes 15 Docile Bodies and a Viscous Force: Fear of the Flesh in Return of the Jedi “Me Chaade su Goodie” “Oh, I Cant Bear to Watch!” A “Slimy Piece of Worm-Ridden Filth” “Soon You Will Learn to Appreciate Me” Notes 16 Of Battle Droids and Zillo Beasts: Moral Status in the Star Wars Galaxy “Where Are You Taking This ... Thing?” “We Cannot Allow the Destruction of an Innocent Life Form” “Besides Being the Last of Its Kind, This Creature May Be Intelligent” “I Applaud Your Moral Stance, Doctor. Principle Is in Short Supply” Notes Episode V METAPHYSICS STRIKES BACK 17 Why the Force Must Have a Dark Side Evil Sure Seems Pretty Damn Real Here on Alderaan “Here Goes Nothing” “Ive Got a Very Bad Feeling about This” Empirical Reality Strikes Back Bringing Balance to the Force Notes 18 What Is It Like to Be a Jedi? A Life in the Force “Life Creates It, Makes It Grow” “You Must Unlearn What You Have Learned” “You Must Feel the Force Flowing through You” “A Jedis Strength Flows from the Force” “A Certain [Bodily] Point of View” “The Way of the Force” “Be Mindful of the Living Force” Notes 19 “Never Tell Me the Odds”: An Inquiry Concerning Jedi Understanding A Long Time Ago, in a City-State Far, Far Away Hume Shot First The Jedi as Scientist Shut Up, Threepio! Always in Motion Is the Truth Notes Episode VI RETURN OF THE NON-HUMAN 20 Mindless Philosophers and Overweight Globs of Grease: Are Droids Capable of Thought? “We Seem to Be Made to Suffer. Its Our Lot in Life” “Do You Speak Bocce?” “Hes Quite Clever, You Know, for a Human Being” Dignity for Droids Notes 21 Can Chewie Speak? Wittgenstein and the Philosophy of Language Does “Rrwwwgg” Count as Speaking? Wrenches and Hydrospanners: Meaning through Use How to Describe a Disturbance in the Force Learning the Lingua Galactica “Let the Wookiee Win” Notes 22 Can the Zillo Beast Strike Back? Cloning, De-extinction, and the Species Problem How De-extinct Species Strike Back The Species Problem: Biologys Phantom Menace If Once a Species Starts Down the Dark Path... A New Hope for Extinct Species? Notes Episode VII THE FANDOM AWAKENS 23 “In That Time...” in a Galaxy Far, Far Away: Epic Myth-Understandings and Myth-Appropriation in Star Wars Myth: Its More than Hokey Religions and Ancient Weapons, Han Joseph Campbell: “Man of the Monomyth” Lucass Campbell Soupçon “Great, Kid! Dont Get Cocky!” “And You Said It Was Pretty Here!” A Final Word Notes 24 Star Wars, Emotions, and the Paradox of Fiction “You Know, I Did Feel Something” “Be Mindful of Your Thoughts” “Youre Imagining Things” “Luke, Trust Your Feelings” “Its Like Something out of a Dream” “There. You See, Lord Vader. She Can Be Reasonable” Notes 25 The Mind of Blue Snaggletooth: The Intentional Stance, Vintage Star Wars Action Figures, and the Origins of Religion Introspection in Jabbas Palace Blue Snaggletooth Designed for Action Blue Snaggletooth Says, “A Parsec Is a Unit of Distance, Not Time” But Action Figures Dont Have Thoughts Notes 26 Gospel, Gossip, and Ghent: How Should We Understand the New Star Wars? The Mechanics of Canon in the Star Wars Universe Canon and the Erasure of Ghent Notes Contributors Index EULA Episode I : The Philosophical Menace. The Platonic Paradox Of Darth Plagueis : How Could A Sith Lord Be Wise? / Terrance Macmullan -- You Are Asking Me To Be Rational : Stoic Philosophy And The Jedi Order / Matt Hummel -- The Jedi Knights Of Faith : Anakin, Luke, And Søren (kierkegaard) / William A. Lindenmuth -- Anakin And Achilles : Scars Of Nihilism / Don Adams -- Dark Times : The End Of The Republic And The Beginning Of Chinese Philosophy / Kevin S. Decker -- Episode Ii : Attack Of The Morals. Chasing Kevin Smith : Was It Immoral For The Rebel Alliance To Destroy Death Star Ii? / Charles C. Camosy -- The Ballad Of Boba Fett : Mercenary Agency And Amoralism In War / David Larocca -- How Guilty Is Jar Jar Binks? / Nicolas Michaud -- Know The Dark Side : A Theodicy Of The Force / Jason T. Eberl -- Episode Iii: Revenge Of The Alliance -- Like My Father Before Me : Loss And Redemption Of Fatherhood In Star Wars / Charles Taliaferro And Annika Taylor Beck --^ The Friends Of A Jedi : Friendship, Family, And Civic Duty In A Galaxy At War / Greg Littmann -- Light Side, Dark Side, And Switching Sides : Loyalty And Betrayal In Star Wars / Daniel Malloy -- Guardians And Tyrants In The Republics Of Star Wars And Plato / Adam Barkman And Kyle Alkema -- Episode Iv : A New Hermeneutic -- Pregnant Padmé And Slave Leia : Star Wars' Female Role Models / Cole Bowman -- Docile Bodies And A Viscous Force : Fear Of The Flesh In Return Of The Jedi / Jennifer L. Mcmahon -- Of Battle Droids And Zillo Beasts : Moral Status In The Star Wars Galaxy / James M. Okapal -- Episode V : Metaphysics Strikes Back -- Why The Force Must Have A Dark Side / George A. Dunn -- What Is It Like To Be A Jedi? : A Life In The Force / Marek Mcgann -- Never Tell Me The Odds : An Inquiry Concerning Jedi Understanding / Andrew Zimmerman Jones -- Episode Vi : Return Of The Non-human --^ Mindless Philosophers And Overweight Globs Of Grease : Are Droids Capable Of Thought? / Dan Burkett -- Can Chewie Speak? Wittgenstein And The Philosophy Of Language / Rhiannon Grant And Myfanwy Reynolds -- Can The Zillo Beast Strike Back? Cloning, De-extinction, And The Species Problem / Leonard Finkelman -- Episode Vii : The Fandom Awakens -- In That Time... In A Galaxy Far, Far Away : Epic Myth-understandings And Myth-appropriation In Star Wars / John Thompson -- Star Wars, Emotions, And The Paradox Of Fiction / Lance Belluomini -- The Mind Of Blue Snaggletooth : The Intentional Stance, Vintage Star Wars Action Figures, And The Origins Of Religion / Dennis Knepp -- Gospel, Gossip, And Ghent : How Should We Understand The New Star Wars? / Roy T. Cook And Nathan Kellen. Edited By Jason T. Eberl And Kevin S. Decker. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Text In English. Episode I : the philosophical menace. The platonic paradox of Darth Plagueis : how could a sith lord be wise? / Terrance MacMullan -- You are asking me to be rational : stoic philosophy and the Jedi order / Matt Hummel -- The Jedi knights of faith : Anakin, Luke, and Soren (Kierkegaard) / William A. Lindenmuth -- Anakin and Achilles : scars of nihilism / Don Adams -- Dark times : the end of the republic and the beginning of Chinese philosophy / Kevin S. Decker -- Episode II : attack of the morals. Chasing Kevin Smith: was it immoral for the rebel alliance to destroy Death Star II? / Charles C. Camosy -- The ballad of Boba Fett : mercenary agency and amoralism in war / David LaRocca -- How guilty is Jar Jar Binks? / Nicolas Michaud -- Know the dark side : a theodicy of the force / Jason T. Eberl -- Episode III: revenge of the alliance -- Like my father before me : loss and redemption of fatherhood in Star Wars / Charles Taliaferro and Annika Taylor Beck -- The friends of a Jedi : friendship, family, and civic duty in a galaxy at war / Greg Littmann -- Light side, dark side, and switching sides : loyalty and betrayal in Star Wars / Daniel Malloy -- Guardians and tyrants in the republics of Star Wars and Plato / Adam Barkman and Kyle Alkema -- Episode IV : a new hermeneutic -- Pregnant Padme and slave Leia : Star Wars female role models / Cole Bowman -- Docile bodies and a viscous force : fear of the flesh in return of the Jedi / Jennifer L. McMahon -- Of battle droids and zillo beasts : moral status in the Star Wars galaxy / James M. Okapal -- Episode V : metaphysics strikes back -- Why the force must have a dark side / George A. Dunn -- What is it like to be a Jedi? : a life in the force / Marek McGann -- Never tell me the odds : an inquiry concerning Jedi understanding / Andrew Zimmerman Jones -- Episode VI : return of the non-human -- Mindless philosophers and overweight globs of grease : are droids capable of thought? / Dan Burkett -- Can Chewie speak? : Wittgenstein and the philosophy of language / Rhiannon Grant and Myfanwy Reynolds -- Can the zillo beast strike back? : cloning, de-extinction, and the species problem / Leonard Finkelman -- Episode VII : the fandom awakens -- In that time in a galaxy far, far away : epic myth-understandings and myth-appropriation in Star Wars / John Thompson -- Star Wars, emotions, and the paradox of fiction / Lance Belluomini -- The mind of blue snaggletooth : the intentional stance, vintage Star Wars action figures, and the origins of religion / Dennis Knepp -- Gospel, gossip, and Ghent : how should we understand the new Star Wars? / Roy T. Cook and Nathan Kellen Is the Rebel Alliance a terrorist organization? Are droids capable of thought? This collection of essays explore the deeper meaning of Lucas's media franchise creation, Star wars. From feminist critiques and mythic foundations, to an understanding of what is "canonical" in the franchise, the reader will see a new side to familiar topics