But first, a little background on why I am writing this. In my opinion, the Jedi are no good guys. No, they are not bad guys or evil by any definition of the words, but they are not good guys either. It is their code that makes them this way, creating a cold and indifferent view of the galaxy. When you hear about a Jedi doing something that is unlike a Jedi, it is usually out of an act of kindness or empathy for the people around them. I will also be discussing the lack of logic within the lines, "Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering," and why someone with the famous wisdom of Yoda would never really utter such nonsense.
All this being said, I would like to say that I absolutely LOVE Star Wars and the Star Wars universe. I am just shy of what one may call a "fan boy." I say just shy because it is my belief that true love of the originals demands hatred of the prequels. A fan boy likes all the movies simply because of the Star Wars brand, dismissing such reasonable demands such as quality and continuity.
Let's begin,
There is no emotion, there is peace.
This is the first line of the Jedi code. It means that a Jedi is to avoid emotion and emotional attachments. Instead, they are to embrace peace. This means peace of mind. No fear, love, hate, joy, excitement, anger, and so on. Basically, the first line is a redundancy, saying in effect, "there is no emotion, there is a lack of emotion."
First and foremost, a lack of emotion is impossible without mental illness, and even then the mental illness tends to show a lack of empathy and compassion with an abundance of anger and malice. Second, if one is truly trained to not feel emotion, and actually has no ability to feel it, they will have no idea what is right, wrong, moral, immoral, ethical, or unethical. Human beings (of which there have been plenty of Jedi) rely on emotional responses to stimuli to tell us what is right or wrong. If we see a person hurting another, and it stirs negative emotions in us, this means that we do not like what we are seeing. We see the event as wrong.
Now that, that is out of the way, let's get into Star Wars. We see Jedi laugh, joke, smile, have emotional outbursts, taunt, and so on. All of these actions are those of people feeling emotion. When Yoda sighs, and says, "I cannot train him, he has no patience" in reference to Luke, he is expressing several emotions, such as frustration and disappointment. When Obi Wan lets out a screaming "NO!" as he witnesses the fall of Qui Gon, this is an emotional response. When Obi Wan speaks fondly of Anakin, to Luke, calling him a "dear friend" this is emotional attachment. So, either the Jedi simply do not honor this part of the code, or the person who authored the sentiment of it simply did not understand human emotion
NOTE: Now, I know someone reading this might want to say, "Anakin told Padme that the Jedi are allowed to feel compassion." I have two things to say to this. First, it was Anakin trying to convince Padme that he is allowed to love. Second, Anakin was incorrect if the code is to be followed. Compassion is an emotion, and remember, there is no emotion.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
This is another redundancy, "there is no ignorance, there is a lack of ignorance." Ignorance is the lack of knowledge, and knowledge is the lack of ignorance. This of course applies to specifics, and this is where the problem within the code lies. The code speaks of ignorance and knowledge in a sweeping generalization. Even after 800 years of training Jedi, Yoda would be challenged in a great many tasks of which he has not done or even been exposed to. In short, this part of the code is nonsensical because of its generalization of ignorance and knowledge.
There is no passion, there is serenity.
Ok, this is where the over all flaw of the "logic" of the Jedi is first exposed. This is nothing more then a repeat of the first line. Passion being intense emotion, and serenity being calm or peace.
There is no chaos, there is harmony.
Chaos is conflict within a group, harmony is synchronization within a group, or the opposite of chaos. Yes, another redundancy. In the code, it again is in the context of the mind. No chaos in the mind. Few, if any, Jedi have been depicted violating this part of the code. In fact, it would be completely out of character for the so-called heroes of the Star Wars universe to be shown panicking. So, this one, I classify as a gimme, which begs the question of why some feel to ad this line in. This is the additional, fifth line not present in the four line version.
There is no death, there is the Force.
Short and sweet, this falls into the category of Star Wars lore. However, the death of Jedi is mention numerous times within the movies, with little reference to them "becoming one with the force."
Now for the inherent flaw of the Jedi code, and Jedi logic that makes the code so nonsensical. It falls under the circular logic or circular reasoning fallacy.
"Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering" is circular because the speakers wishes to convey the idea that fear is bad and of the dark side and therefore to be avoided. So, the speaker creates a chain of circular reasoning that shows, validly how fear is bad. Unfortunately, the same sort of chain can be used to show how fear is good.
"Fear leads to caution, caution leads to thought, thought leads to knowledge." Therefore, fear is good?
A big resounding no, fear is not good, nor is it bad. Fear simply is. Specific fear can be good or bad. Fear of spiders can be good because it leads one to avoid all spiders, including the ones that can actually do harm. Fear of failure is bad because it causes one to avoid attempting anything to avoid failure. But fear, in and of itself is not good or bad, it is simply one of many human emotional responses to stimuli.
The genius of Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker, at least in the expanded universe seems to agree with these ideas, because he creates the Jedi Creed, to replace the Jedi Code. It is as follows:
Jedi are the guardians of peace in the Galaxy.
The first thing to note is the choice of words here, "guardians of peace." They are not warriors for peace, defenders of peace, fighters for peace; they are guardians of peace. A guardian is a protector. So, the Jedi protect and preserve peace. How, you say?
Jedi use their powers to defend and protect, never to attack others.
One of the things Yoda told Luke that became a part of the creed. This is how they protect and preserve peace. By not violating it. They defend against violator of peace, and protect those who cannot defend themselves.
Jedi respect all life, in any form.
This is post the whole "midichlorine" nonsense. Jedi respect all life because they respect the force, which binds all life together.
Jedi serve others rather than rule over them, for the good of the Galaxy.
Another beautifully worded line. They serve others, rather then rule over them. They do not make the rules, they live a life of servitude. BUT, only for the good of the galaxy. Therefore not serving those, whether in they be in positions of authority or not, that seek to do harm in the galaxy.
Jedi seek to improve themselves through knowledge and training.
And finally, a noncircular, non-redundant, and meaningful code of conduct. Jedi seek to improve themselves. This means they recognize they are not perfect, not better then others. They do so through knowledge, and the attainment thereof through training.
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