Are Jedi Mind Tricks Ethical?
The Force can do terrifying things in the Star Wars universe. For example, Force users can levitate heavy metal objects, blast lightning, and even choke foes with their fingertips. Yet one Force ability that receives little scrutiny is one mainly used by light side followers: Jedi mind tricks. For example, a mere verbal suggestion and a hand wave can bend someone’s mind to the user’s will. Should Jedi mind tricks be considered ethical? If not, why are they practiced by some of the most iconic heroes in Star Wars history?
Practicing The Jedi Code
Being a Jedi means living by the Jedi Code, a belief system with clear moral guidelines, if not a codified rule system. At its core, the Jedi Code teaches that the Jedi should create balance in their environment, avoid attachments, and enforce justice without seeking vengeance.
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The mantra of the Jedi Code reads as follows:
There is no emotion; there is peace.
There is no ignorance; there is knowledge.
There is no passion; there is serenity.
There is no chaos; there is harmony.
There is no death; there is the Force.
The Jedi Code forbids certain actions, such as killing unarmed opponents or taking a romantic partner, but it allows Jedi mind tricks. So why do Jedi mind tricks, which would enable users to manipulate another person’s mind, make the cut?
Compare the Jedi Code with the Code of the Sith:
Peace is a lie. There is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are Broken.
The Force shall free me.
If anything, Jedi mind tricks sound like they would fit right in with principles outlined in the Code of the Sith. Using Jedi mind tricks gives the strength to control others and thus the capability to gain power.
A Strong Influence Over The Weak-Minded
When Jedi mind tricks are introduced in A New Hope, they are played for laughs. In order to protect Luke Skywalker, C-3PO, and R2-D2, Obi-Wan waves his hands to a group of Imperial stormtroopers. “These aren’t the droids you’re looking for,” says Obi-Wan. When Luke asks about the incident, Obi-Wan replies, “The Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded.”
The scene plays out with humor as the good guys pull one over on the nameless baddies and escape through Mos Eisley. However, there is a bit of a sour note that the story’s mentor figure takes advantage of the “weak-minded” to get his way.
A more positive example of Jedi mind tricks occurs during a chase sequence early in Attack of the Clones. As Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker search for a bounty hunter in a crowded bar, an alien offers to sell Obi-Wan death sticks. Obi-Wan uses the Jedi mind trick to ward off the alien and says, “you want to go home and rethink your life.”
Again, the surface level shows Obi-Wan doing an act of kindness. He helps a drug dealer turn away from crime. Does anyone have the right to dramatically alter another person’s life without their consent?
The Greater Good
There has always been some distance between the ideals of the Jedi Order and how the Jedi operated in practice. The question is how much that distance matters. The Clone Wars era found the Jedi emphasizing law enforcement more than keeping the peace. Nevertheless, the Jedi Council believed they needed to become militarized in order to save the galaxy from the threat of the Separatists.
However, the move ultimately led to the destruction of the Jedi Order. As the Jedi drifted further away from their core ideals, the Jedi Order gained a reputation as a weakened force incapable of upholding the Republic. Usually, when we see characters use Jedi mind tricks, it is to accomplish something for the greater good such as escaping a villain. However, it is worth noting that the Jedi fell during a time when they compromised their belief system, and it is worth considering if such compromises should be made at all.
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Source: Wookieepedia, StarWars, YouTube