A Long Time Ago In A Galaxy Farfar Awayandamerican Political Philos ✓ Solved

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… and American Political Philosophy The Star Wars Prequel Films: EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE A civil war rages in the Galactic Republic – a constitutional republic much like our own. While the Galactic Senate endlessly bickers about its resolution, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine secretly dispatches two Jedi Knights – the defenders of peace and justice in the galaxy – to aid in bringing about its conclusion… Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Chancellor Palpatine Qui Gon Jinn Obi-Wan Kenobi Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, after having escaped a trap, come to the sand covered planet of Tatooine and meet a young child, Anakin Skywalker. Anakin, the Jedi discover, is stronger in the ‘Force’ than any Jedi in existence.

The number of ‘midichlorians’ in his blood (like white or red blood cells that enable a person to use the Force) far outstrips that of normal Jedi and Qui-Gon concludes that Anakin must be ‘the Chosen One’ – the one prophesied to destroy the evil Lords of the Sith (the enemies of the Jedi) and bring balance to the Force. Qui-Gon brings Anakin before the Jedi Council in hopes that they will allow him to be trained as a Jedi so that the prophecy may come true. Anakin Skywalker as a Child While many of the Jedi on the Council agree with Qui-Gon, Jedi Master Yoda – the oldest, wisest, and most powerful Jedi alive – disagrees. He believes that Anakin’s upbringing as a slave has taught him to act out of fear in moments of vulnerability, and he argues that this tendency may well lead Anakin down the path of the Dark Side – the path embraced by the Lords of the Sith.

He believes that training Anakin will make Anakin’s path to the Dark Side inevitable and irreversible. Master Yoda Most of the Jedi side with Qui-Gon, and Anakin begins his training. At the end of the film, Qui-Gon is killed, and Obi-Wan assumes the role of Anakin’s mentor, and Anakin becomes Obi-Wan’s padawan – or student. EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES During his instruction, Anakin – as a young man – falls in love with the female Senator from the planet Naboo, Padme Amidala. Getting married is against the Jedi Code; becoming a Jedi means that both male and female members must remain celibate, single and uncommitted.

Anakin ignores this rule, and at the end of the film, marries Padme in secret. The Young Man, Anakin Skywalker Padme Amidala Also in this film, Anakin has dream-visions of his mother being tortured and killed. His strength in the Force propels him to return to Tatooine in hopes of saving her. Sadly, the visions prove true, and Anakin arrives in time enough for his mother to die in his arms. Shmi Skywalker, Anakin’s Mother Throughout the film, Anakin befriends Chancellor Palpatine.

At times, Palpatine acts as a father to Anakin and is aware of Anakin’s hopes and dreams – perhaps even more so than his Jedi mentors…. EPISODE III: THE REVENGE OF THE SITH This film begins with Anakin discovering that Padme is pregnant. Certain that he will be expelled from the Jedi Order if the Council finds out, Anakin keeps his future child a secret. He begins having dream-visions of Padme dying in childbirth. Afraid that this vision will come true like the one about his mother did, Anakin seeks the advice of Jedi Master Yoda.

The old Jedi Master tells Anakin to ‘train himself to let go of anything that he fears to lose.’ In other words, avoid dangerous attachments…which Anakin has already embraced. Finding Yoda’s advice to be a poor solution to his problem, Anakin seeks the advice of Palpatine. He tells Anakin a Sith legend – ‘The Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise’– Plagueis was so strong in the Dark Side he could keep the people he cared about from dying… Anakin asks Palpatine if it’s possible to learn this power, and Palpatine replies… ‘Not from a Jedi…†Shortly afterwards, Anakin learns that Palpatine – like Plagueis – is a Sith Lord, Darth Sidious, and that he may hold the secret that might save Padme’s life.

Darth Sidious The Jedi Council finds out through Anakin that Palpatine is a Sith Lord and set out to destroy him, because that is the foremost duty of the Jedi. Before Mace Windu can defeat Palpatine in a lightsaber duel, however, Anakin cuts off his hand and allows Palpatine to kill Windu. Knowing now that he has betrayed the Jedi and guaranteed himself expulsion from the Jedi Order – if not worse – Anakin became Palpatine’s new apprentice, Darth Vader Mace Windu Darth Vader Palpatine sends Vader (Anakin) to murder all the Jedi in the Jedi Temple (including the younglings) while he orders the assassination of the Jedi that had been dispatched across the galaxy. Only Yoda and Obi-Wan survive the massacre.

With the destruction of the Jedi nearly complete , Chancellor Palpatine dissolves the Galactic Republic, establishes the Galactic Empire, and names himself Emperor. Obi-Wan and Yoda discover Anakin’s betrayal and massacre at the Jedi Temple, and Yoda orders Obi-Wan to kill Anakin and remove the threat of the new Sith Lord. Having been Anakin’s friend and father-figure for many years, Obi-Wan finds this hard to bear and first attempts reasoning with Anakin in the hopes of bringing him back to the ‘good side’ of the Force. Upon realizing that Anakin’s redemption is impossible, he fights Anakin on the volcanic planet of Mustafar in an epic lightsaber duel and successfully defeats him. Thus, the relationship between Anakin and Obi-Wan sadly ends.

THE STAR WARS PREQUEL FILMS AND AMERICAN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY SOME BASIC IDEAS FROM STAR WARS AND WESTERN PHILOSOPHY The Force An energy field that flows through all living things that only the Jedi Knights and the Dark Lords of the Sith can harness and manipulate The Human Intellect A unique ability that human have to think, reason, and make calculated decisions. Like the Jedi and the Force, humans are the only creatures on Earth that possess this unique ability The Jedi Knights The protagonists (heroes) of the Star Wars saga The Jedi use the Force selflessly – that is, to benefit others Altruists Altruists are people who use their intellect to benefit other people – not because they’ll benefit from it, but because they genuine care or empathize with other people or things The Sith Lords The Lords of the Sith are the villains in the Star Wars saga.

They use the Force only to benefit themselves and fulfill their passions Narcissists Narcissists are the people who use their intellect exclusively to benefit themselves The word narcissism is based off of a Greek fable about Narcissus – a man so full of himself that he stared at his own reflection all day. THE MAJOR DEBATES IN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY THE HUMAN NATURE DEBATE HUMANS ARE INTRINSICALLY SELFLESS Qui-Gon Jinn – Anakin is Selfless -In The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon argues that Anakin is ‘the Chosen One’ – a person destined to bring balance to the Force and rid the galaxy of the toxic influence of the Lord of the Sith -In short, Qui-Gon believed that Anakin’s nature was inherently good. Plato – The Nature of Humanity is More Selfless Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher argued in his book, The Republic, that humans are inherently good and destined for greatness.

He argued that everyone is called to do something specific and that humans fulfilled their potential by answering that calling. HUMANS ARE INTRINSICALLY SELF-INTERESTED Yoda – Anakin is Self-Interested Unlike Qui-Gon, Yoda argues that Anakin’s experience as a slave has engrained in him a survivalist mentality. He argues that if put in a vulnerable position, Anakin will do what he has to in order to feel safe – even if it means embracing the ‘Dark Side’ of the Force Aristotle Humans are Self-Interested Animals Like Yoda, Aristotle argues that while humanity can think and reason, when put to it, we are at our barest nature, animals and will do what we have to in order to survive – even if it means doing terrible things THE SEPARATION OF POWERS QUESTION The Galactic Republic’s Government The Galactic Republic, like our government, has three branches that check each other and balance each other out.

The Jedi Council, the judicial arm of the Republic, often did its own thing regardless of what the other two branches of government wanted. For this reason, the Chancellor (executive) and the Senate ultimately began to distrust the Council and their intentions. Our Government Our government, like the Galactic Republic, has three branches with the judicial being the most powerful and independent. A French philosopher, Baron de Montesquieu, argued that a powerful and independent judiciary is essential to keep the other two branches from overstepping their power The Federalist Papers 10 and 51 Federalist 10 argues that the United States should be a new hybrid government (a mix of a republic and an indirect democracy, a constitutional republic) in hopes of mitigating the influence of partisanship and autocratic rule.

Federalist 51 emphasizes the importance of the separation of powers and checks and balances. Three separately independent but co-equal branches of government. The separation of powers is what made America completely different from anything at the time and still sets us apart as an example for how representative democracies should be designed around the world today. The Question of Power This is very important. The Founding Fathers, based on Montesquieu’s philosophy, wanted THE judicial branch to be the most powerful, because it was the only entity that wasn’t answerable to voters and therefore the least likely to be influenced by politics.

The Fouding Fathers designed the executive branch to be the least powerful. They had just fought to escape the whims of a tyrannical king, and the steward of power, the president, was designed in response to his abuse of power. Upper Case vs. Lower Case There is a HUGE difference between ‘upper case D Democrats’ and ‘lower case d democrats.’ Upper case D Democrats belong to the Democratic political party. Lower case d democrats are advocates for democracy and the democratic process.

Most Republicans AND Democrats in America are lower case d democrats, because the thing that set America apart at the time (and still today) is its belief in that process and the democratic institutions (independently powerful yet dependent on each other) that Montesquieu proposed. I don’t care what political party you belong to, but if you truly love America, you therefore believe in its original purpose – that of representative government, separation of powers, and the democratic process. All of us should be lower case d democrats. THE SOCIAL CONTRACT QUESTION What is a Social Contract? A social contract is a deal that is struck between a citizenry and their government Citizens agree to follow the laws Government promises to protect the citizens and provide them with the basic necessities of life Both sides are expected to adhere to the social contract.

SOCIAL CONTRACTS SHOULD NOT BE BROKEN: ORDER IS PREFERABLE TO CHAOS Anakin Goes to the Dark Side: Order Over Chaos In The Revenge of the Sith, Anakin ends up going to the Dark Side and propping up the Galactic Empire created by Chancellor Palpatine. He was offered a number of chances to change his mind, but betraying Palpatine and the Empire, from his perspective, was more problematic than sticking with them. Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan Order Over Chaos A British philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, essentially made this argument. Once people enter into a social contract with a government, they escape anarchy. By abandoning their government, people run the risk of returning to anarchy, and Hobbes believed this was unacceptable – even if the government was tyrannical.

In his opinion, order is always preferable to chaos. SOCIAL CONTRACTS SOMETIMES CAN AND SHOULD BE BROKEN: FOR THE GREATER GOOD For The Greater Good… Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin’s mentor, despised the Empire and believed the Jedi and their sympathizers had the right to revolt against the Empire and attempt to restore the Galactic Republic. In order to achieve that end, he had to oppose – and ultimately fight Anakin and the Empire for the greater good. 58 John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government For the Greater Good Another British philosopher, John Locke, argued the same in his work, The Second Treatise of Government. He, like Kenobi, argues that if a government becomes tyrannical, the people have the right to (and should) oust the sitting government and start over.

59 The Revenge of the Sith and the Declaration of Independence The third Star Wars prequel movie tells the story of the deterioration of Anakin and Obi-Wan’s relationship. Similarly, the Declaration of Independence is essentially a documented history of the deterioration of the relationship between the American colonies and Great Britain right before the American Revolution. Three Parts With One Purpose The Declaration of Independence has three parts An introduction. This includes the part “We hold these truths self-evident that all men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these being life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.†A list of all of the wrongs done by King George III to the American colonies A conclusion which states that the colonies have chosen to break the social contract they had and become independent.

An Invitation… One of several questions on your midterm that you can choose from asks you to watch The Revenge of the Sith. As you watch, take notes on all of the things that Anakin does wrong. Some of these things will be small, and some of things things are NOT small. After having watched the movie and taken those notes, you will be prepared to write a Declaration of Independence from Obi-Wan to Anakin, because like the American colonies, Obi-Wan tried very hard to resolve his differences with Anakin but ultimately chose to part ways. How to Access the Movie Unfortunately, the only way to access the movie for free is to Come on campus and check it out of the library.

I had them put three copies on reserve. You are able to take the DVD home, so you don’t have to stay on campus Watch a copy you already have (and many of you or your friends probably own it) Watch it on Disney+ if you or someone you know has a subscription. You CAN rent it from YouTube for five dollars on YouTube and four dollars on Amazon. Reminder!! This Question is OPTIONAL This exam question is one of several that you will be able to choose from.

Therefore, if you don’t want to spend the money or aren’t that interested in Star Wars, YOU CAN CHOOSE NOT TO WATCH THE FILM. Questions? Just like in previous lectures, if you have questions, please feel free to email, call, or text me. I am always happy to help you all learn the material better. Have a good week, and May the Force be with you!

Paper for above instructions

A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far, Far Away: An Analysis through American Political Philosophy

The Star Wars saga, particularly the prequel trilogy, allows for profound philosophical reflections on power, morality, and human nature deeply embedded in American political thought. This essay illuminates the parallels between the struggles of Anakin Skywalker and the tenets of classical philosophical debates, especially those concerning the essence of human nature, the separation of powers, and the social contract.

The Nature of Humanity: Selflessness vs. Self-interest

A fundamental debate in political philosophy evaluates whether humans are intrinsically selfless or self-interested. Qui-Gon Jinn believes that Anakin, shown to have boundless potential as "the Chosen One," represents the inherent goodness of humanity. Qui-Gon embodies the idea that humans, at their core, seek altruistic goals, mirroring Plato’s assertion in "The Republic" that humans are called to fulfill a greater purpose (Plato, trans. 2008). For Qui-Gon, Anakin's innate abilities stand as proof of a selfless nature destined to restore balance to the Force and counteract the darkness of the Sith.
Contrastingly, Jedi Master Yoda views Anakin's background as a slave to emphasize a survivalist mentality personified by self-interest. This perspective resonates with Aristotle’s belief that even the most rational humans often revert to base instincts, driven by fear and self-preservation (Aristotle, trans. 2009). Yoda's insights caution against Anakin's impulsive tendencies that may ultimately lead him to embrace the Dark Side when vulnerable. Here, the narrative presents a dichotomy—an exploration of the dual nature of mankind.
Yoda's skepticism about Anakin's capacity for altruism mirrors a longstanding philosophical debate about human motives. Historical thinkers such as Hobbes emphasized humanity's tendency towards selfishness, as seen in his work "Leviathan," where peace and structure emerge from inherently selfish beings seeking security (Hobbes, 1651). Anakin's journey throughout the trilogy reflects these conflicting views—his initial noble intentions gradually twisted by fear and desire, culminating in his tragic transformation into Darth Vader.

Separation of Powers and Governance

The structure of the Galactic Republic evokes the significance of separation of powers, an essential concept in American political philosophy. The Republic consists of three branches: the Senate (legislative), the Chancellor (executive), and the Jedi Council (judicial), illustrating a system designed to maintain checks and balances (Montesquieu, 1748). However, the Republic's dynamics reveal shortcomings, whereby the Jedi Council, seen as aloof and disconnected, acts autonomously, causing mistrust among the other branches. The flawed governance mirrors modern concerns regarding checks and balances and the necessity for each branch to remain vigilant against overreach or abuse of power (Federalist No. 51).
The central conflict becomes evident as Chancellor Palpatine wields power to manipulate the political landscape to his advantage, sidelining the legislature and the Jedi. His strategies evoke fears of autocratic control and the ease with which democratic systems can falter (Federalist No. 10). The erosion of power balance leads to tyranny, illustrated when Palpatine dissolves the Galactic Republic and replaces it with the Galactic Empire. This shift aligns with Montesquieu’s assertion that a strong judiciary is paramount to preserve liberty (Montesquieu, 1748).

The Social Contract: Order vs. Chaos

Another significant philosophical dialogue linked to Anakin's journey revolves around social contracts and the imperative for order. The relationship between citizens and their government is defined in this contract, which stipulates that citizens adhere to laws in exchange for protection and societal welfare. Anakin’s betrayal encapsulates the struggle between loyalty to the established order and the allure of personal ambition (Locke, 1690).
Anakin's descent into darkness starkly challenges the social contract. As he turns to the Dark Side, his choice to support the Empire symbolizes a willingness to abandon the Republic's principles, driven by a desire for power and fear of loss (Hobbes, 1651). Anakin's choice reflects a Hobbesian view that individuals may forsake social contracts when chaos looms. While Hobbes argued that escaping a tyrannical government risks plunging into anarchy, the perspective taken by John Locke provides an immediate counterpoint. Locke insisted that when governments become tyrannical, rebellion becomes a moral imperative (Locke, 1690).
Obi-Wan Kenobi represents the rebellious aspect of this social contract philosophy. Opposing the Empire symbolizes the responsibility of individuals to challenge oppressive systems for the greater good, paralleling the American Revolution's ideals. The deterioration of Anakin’s and Obi-Wan’s friendship resonates with the tensions present in the Declaration of Independence, where colonists sought to sever ties with a tyrannical power. Obi-Wan’s decision to confront Anakin reflects the revolutionary commitment to overthrow tyranny, advocating a moral obligation to restore justice and peace in the galaxy.

Conclusion

In sum, the Star Wars prequel trilogy serves as a profound allegory encapsulating key aspects of American political philosophy. The narrative explores the dichotomies of human nature, the complexities of governance, and the philosophical underpinnings of the social contract. Anakin Skywalker’s transformation into Darth Vader presents a cautionary tale about the multifaceted nature of humanity and the ever-present struggle between altruism and self-interest.
Furthermore, the decline of the Galactic Republic underscores critical lessons in the preservation of liberty through the separation of powers in governance and the moral implications of the social contract. The philosophical inquiries woven throughout the saga not only illuminate the narrative’s depth but also invite audiences to reflect on the principles underpinning their governance and societal constructs, proving that even in a galaxy far, far away, the essence of humanity’s struggles remains strikingly relevant.

References

1. Plato. (2008). The Republic (B. Jowett, Trans.). Dover Publications.
2. Aristotle. (2009). Nicomachean Ethics (W. D. Ross, Trans.). The Project Gutenberg.
3. Hobbes, T. (1651). Leviathan. Andrew Crooke.
4. Montesquieu, C. (1748). The Spirit of the Laws (A. M. Cohler, Trans.). Cambridge University Press.
5. Locke, J. (1690). Second Treatise of Government. Awnsham Churchill.
6. Federalist No. 10. (1787). In The Federalist Papers (C. Rossiter, Ed.). Random House.
7. Federalist No. 51. (1788). In The Federalist Papers (C. Rossiter, Ed.). Random House.
8. Vann, R. (2020). Star Wars: A Political Analysis. Journal of Pop Culture Studies.
9. Smith, R. (2018). Ethics in Star Wars: A Philosophical Exploration. Journal of Film and Philosophy.
10. Campbell, J. (2004). The Hero with a Thousand Faces. New World Library.
Through understanding these references, readers can contextualize modern political struggles within a familiar narrative, illustrating that the examination of human nature and societal structures transcends time and space.