The debate has raged throughout the ages. Is mankind basically good or basically evil? There are a plethora of theories out there arguing each side in depth, yet seeming to come to little or no conclusion. And why? Because the answer to the question is simply…yes. All human beings have good and evil within them. What classifies a “good” person from an “evil” one is the behavior which he or she chooses to practice.
In order to understand this, we must understand basic human development. As infants, good and evil is defined simply as want and need vs. the absence thereof. For example, if a baby is hungry, or needs a diaper changed, that situation is looked on as undesirable, and therefore “bad”. When a bottle or a change is given, the result is comfort and satisfaction – otherwise seen as “good”. An infant’s moral development at this point does not exist per se. Infants rely on sensory input and biofeedback to understand their world.
As the child grows into a toddler, he or she starts to realize that “Hey, I’m a people!” This means toddlers are discovering their own bodies, defining the limits of their world, generally in relation to themselves (MY house, MY mommy/daddy, MY brother/sister, MY pet, MY dish, etc.)This self-centered definition spills over into moral development. Everything is in generalizations and/or extremes. There is, for the toddler, no “gray” areas, only black and white. Morals are determined at this point solely by what the child wishes, and desirable vs. undesirable behavior is learned by consequences – reward vs. punishment, outwardly enforced, mainly by the parents or caregivers.
As the child grows, morals are generally defined by a peer group. Whatever the peers desire and encourage is seen as “right” behavior. Again, thoughts are still very much in the concrete operational stage – which, to oversimplify, relies only on the five senses to explore the world. Rewards and punishment remain the motivation for behavior, and are still outwardly imposed, but the authority starts to shift from the parents to the peers. And, depending on what the “power brokers” in the peer group decide, the child starts to define some gray areas in their black and white world.
At adolescence, generally, the child starts to see beyond, into the realm of the abstract, or what is known as abstract operational thought. He or she will tend to question such concepts as “good”, “evil”, “compassion”, “justice”, “mercy”, “cruelty”, “oppression” – you get the idea. And his or her world view will expand beyond the small world of self, family and peers to include humanity at large. In addition, desired behavior tends to internalize – become habit – rather than depend on reward and punishment. And the child will continue to revise, expand and reform his or her worldview into adulthood. It is important to note that not all people reach the abstract operational thought stage for some reason.
So what does that have to do with Jedi? Let’s look. Both Jedi and Sith have a code of conduct which acts as a guide for action, and an ideal in which to form themselves. Both strive to reach that ideal, and become the epitome of what their value system holds desirable. No matter that the paths lead in diametrically opposed directions. To follow either path takes courage, discipline, intelligence, dedication and a willingness to pay the heavy price that this path entails. For the Jedi, the price is paid in the learning. For the Sith, the price is paid in the mastery. But it is still there.
I cannot speak for the Sith, obviously. But I do know this: from the time I chose the Light side, even before I knew what it was, I could do nothing else but seek and follow the Jedi ways. It was very much destiny, as the Force leads everyone along their path. And to follow this path, one must accept every obstacle, every joy, every bend and fork in the road, and every other thing that their path may require in order for them to follow. You must decide where you path is leading. It will not be easy. You may not like some of the places it takes you. But it is the only way to get where you must go.
May the Force be with you and may you rest in the love and care of the Divine.