Steve Portnoy
Star Wars and the Problem of Evil
In the Star Wars series, the obvious contrast between the Light and Dark sides of the Force set the stage for the overall plot. This distinct gap between good and evil reflects the very reality in the “real world” of the existence of goodness and evil. This existence of evil leaves many people wondering why evil does exist and where it originates from.
After recognizing the fact that evil does exist in our universe, we must become aware of the two different types: natural evil and moral evil. Natural evil is an evil event that occurs that is not a direct result of someone choosing to do so. Moral evil results from someone choosing to do something harmful or to cause pain to someone else—an evil by choice.
Just like in the Star Wars movies, where a balance of the Force must be obtained, evil and good, too, exist as a result of the other, and must reach a balance. For instance, if there was no evil Empire to rebel against, then there would be no need for Han Solo’s and Leia’s virtuous acts of heroism. Villainy, like that of the Emperor, causes heroism, like that of Luke Skywalker. We must keep in mind that a world without villainy or heroism would be morally lifeless, and so a balance must be found.
But where did evil originally come from? Plato argues that the matter that everything is made of has always existed, and therefore was never created. Since the “divine creator” used this pre-existent matter to create the universe, the universe cannot be perfect, but the creator can only create the best world he can from it. Therefore, the life forms created from the matter are evil just as the matter they are made from was inherently evil. In the Star Wars movies, Obi-Wan frees himself from the “evil matter” of his body, as he allows Darth Vader to kill him.
Augustine, on the other hand, rejecting the Manichee belief that an “evil God” creates evil and a “good God” creates goodness, personifying both good and evil in their belief, Augustine believed that evil was a result of free will that God gives us. Despite the temptations of the Emperor, the conflict with Obi-wan, and his desire for Padme, Anikan’s turning to the Dark Side was the result of his free will. He chose to do it.
In fact, evil is constantly chosen by human beings as a result of pride and selfishness. Many will choose to do wrong in order to gain power or glory. This free choice of choosing to do wrong creates the initial evil in that person. A creature that freely wills to do evil is the first cause of moral evil in that creature.
With
the problem of evil so evident, we must realize that it will always exist and
that moral evil is a result of our own choices.