If you like it, we invented it: Star Wars edition

If you like it, we invented it. You often hear Greeks say that about our contributions to civilization. Actually, I may be the only person who says that. But you get the larger point; Greeks have contributed more than their fair share to the development of western civilization and values.  

Well, get ready for us* to take credit for Star Wars.  

In the run up to 'The Force Awakens' we recently watched 'Return of the Jedi.' My cynical memory of that film revolved around the Ewoks. But upon further review that movie may be the best of the three, with Luke finally harnessing the power of the Force and understanding what it means to be a Jedi, that good must fight evil. Luke gets so deep into the power of the Force that he becomes convinced that it can still redeem his father. 

And of course we see Darth Vader salvaging his humanity, his love for his son, to save Luke's life. He thus becomes born again as Anekin Skywalker before he dies, the ultimate return of the Jedi.

In 'ROTJ' Luke's training leads him back to Yoda, the Greek philosopher of the Star Wars series. George Lucas loved the ancient Greeks, and it shows. You may recall in 'The Empire Strikes Back' Yoda breaks it down for the young Skywalker: For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is...Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. 

You could call that quote Greek Philosophy Version 3.0.  

Version 1.0 is classical Greece. Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, etc. were the first folks on the planet to firmly believe that humans were good, possessors of a divine spark that makes humans human, makes them luminous beings. The spark that makes that possible is of course love, and the understanding that love is the most important force at our disposal.  

The ancient Greeks believed humans could become like gods - the opposite of crude matter - and their art, politics, culture were driven by that belief. That's why Greek culture is still relevant today.

Plato summed up classical Greek optimism in humanity when he stated: "To prefer evil to good is not human nature."  It took Darth Vader seeing his son get repeatedly zapped by the Emperor to finally figure that out but at least he got there.

Version 2.0 is St. Paul and the Hellenistic Greeks (including Hellenized Jews like the former Saul of Tarsus) who founded and canonized Christianity. St. Paul often referred to Christians as 'children of light.' AKA luminous creatures.

If Version 1.0 gave us the wisdom of love, Version 2.0 gave us divine wisdom (Αγία Σοφία). It's a deeper, spiritual wisdom fostered by the belief that Christ's love is stronger then death, and that that love can conquer anything and anyone. And as a corollary to Version 1.0, Version 2.0 taught us that just as God could become human (it happens each year on December 25th) humans can become like God through the divine wisdom of Christ. 

Which finally brings us to Version 3.0, the Force and it's belief that goodness can defeat the darkside. Yoda counsels Luke: "You will know... when you are calm, at peace, passive. A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, NEVER for attack"** and: "Yes, a Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware of the dark side. Anger, fear, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will."

In 'Return of the Jedi' Luke successfully challenges the final part of that quote. He uses the love between a father and son, and the divine love of the Force*** to save the devil himself, Darth Vader, from the Dark Side.

Anyway, that's my Hellenic-tinged view of the philosophy of Star Wars. Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Christ, St. Paul, Yoda, Luke Skywalker all agree - we are luminous creatures.

And remember, if you end up loving 'The Force Awakens' we invented it!

* Ok, once again not us but me. But if you agree then I speak on behalf of ALL of Hellenism.  If you disagree, I'm just a Greek-American Tar Heel enviro in DC with a blog.
** This little quote is fascinating in that it restates the modern Christian belief that defensive wars are okay even though one of the commandments says 'Thou shall not kill.'
*** One final Hellenic-Star Wars link. The Greek word for light is φως, fos phonetically.  It's pretty easy to get from Fos to Force.