Is there such thing as the Light or Dark Side?

[Revan]

I've always wondered in about Star Wars... about the Force... about how it works. I have a theory... and my theory is that there is no "Light" or "Dark" side of the Force... That the "Light" and "Dark" of the Force are not actual things. But rather how other see it. For example: A Good person uses the Force, therefore he might be considered using the "Light Side" but is he really? I think that there is just the Force. and not a Dark or Light side. That the nature of the thing being used is on the user. I think I'm being rather unclear. But I didn't sleep last night and am too tired to think this out clearly.

[matrixman]

As Obi-Wan might say, it depends on your point of view. In other words, Lord Revan, you're right. From your point of view.

But what about the Emperor's decrepit physical state? Isn't this a tangible sign of the ill power of the Dark side taking its toll on its wielder? If the Force is a neutral thing, what accounts for Palpatine's degeneration into the grisly, hunched figure of the Emperor?

Something else just occurred to me: why is it that we only see shades of dead Jedi who are on the side of Good? We don't see Bad guys like Darth Maul and the Emperor come back in ghostly form dressed in their finest. If the Force is a neutral energy, it shouldn't care whether you've been a nice or naughty Jedi. You die, you come back--no questions asked.

Not sure if I make sense either. It's bloody late. Sleep beckons.

[CovenantJr]

Yes... It seems to me that the dark side is the easy option, it is an easier route to power but is driven by hate and anger and so forth - destructive emotions. Nothing worth achieving is easy, and the light side is the hard path. But the dark side exacts its price - the wizened Palpatine and the mostly-mechanical Vader...

[Revan]

NO... I don't think it was the dark side that did it to them... It was just ways to make them look like bad guys... I mean you can't have Palpatine being a great and handsome young man with a friendly face... he's got to look evil.

[Fist and Faith]

I'm inclined to agree with Darth. As Amok said, "Power is power. Its uses are in the hands of the user." CJ said pretty much what Yoda said when Luke asked if the Dark Side was stronger - something like, "No. Easier, it is. More seductive." I'm not sure if anger and vengeance are brought out in humans easier than love and forgiveness are, but I think people act on them quicker, and are very focused when in a rage.

Regarding Palpatine's decrepit look, I'd say he was just plain old and ugly. He doesn't look all that great in Phantom Menace, imo, and that's a few decades before RotJ. But if that's now good enough for you, I can't help but wonder if using the Force at such high levels would damage anyone who didn't know that it would happen and know techniques for using it safely. Secrets which the Jedi were perhaps aware of, and Palpatine not.

The shades of Jedi is an interesting question. It could be argued that Vader did more to change the course of events for everyone, and possibly even the Force itself, than Annakin did, and is therefore an example of a Dark shade. But I might also hypothesize that the three were able to appear to Luke (and Obi-wan to Yoda) because he welcomed them. Maybe shades are like Vampires, needing an invitation?

[Sheol]

In other topics it has been said before but I have found alot of answers from Taoism. I found a so many answers to questions about Star Wars and it was all so interesting. You should look it up. This is the first site i found and it had so much to offer for looking up Taoism for the first time.

www.clas.ufl.edu/users/gthursby/taoism/index.htm

[Fist and Faith]

Yes! Sheol, that's the best taoism site I've found too. (Next to mine, that is. Just click on my site. )